Georgia School District Goes to Court against Humanist Group over Employees Praying with Students

Carrie Dedrick | Updated: Dec 04, 2014

Georgia School District Goes to Court against Humanist Group over Employees Praying with Students

A Georgia school district has been handed a lawsuit from the American Humanist Association for allowing its employees to pray with students and including religious references in football literature. 

One Hall County School District parent and two district residents have filed the suit against the district, claiming that the religious practices at Chestatee High School are discriminatory. 

The lawsuit states, “Defendants' policy, practice, and custom of authorising faculty, coaches and other school officials to lead and participate in prayer with students during school-sponsored activities, and their policy, practice, and custom of inserting biblical references into official football team documents and banners, in violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, as applied to Georgia by the Fourteenth Amendment."

None of the plaintiffs in the case have been identified by name. One plaintiff said her child is not old enough to attend high school but has been “exposed to the promotion of religion.” 

District superintendent Will Schofield said the lawsuit is a distraction. 

"Attempts to distract our district from our mission into supporting the efforts of special interest groups will always be discouraged," he said.

"This district, along with others in our nation, must focus our limited time and resources on matters that prepare and enable our students to be the productive citizens of tomorrow, which includes respecting all rights guaranteed by our Constitution."

Publication date: December 4, 2014



Georgia School District Goes to Court against Humanist Group over Employees Praying with Students