A federal judge this week ordered a Tennessee school district and its employees not to participate in or promote religion at school activities after the district acknowledged it had allowed certain religious expressions in violation of U.S. Supreme Court decisions.
U.S. District Judge Waverly D. Crenshaw issued a permanent injunction Monday against the Smith County School System against school-led prayer and school-endorsed religious expression. The order was part of a “consent decree” – an injunction agreed to by the district.
Crenshaw’s order came one year after the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Tennessee sued the school on behalf of two families who have children within the system.
“Families should be making the decisions about whether and how to educate their children about religion, not public schools,” said Hedy Weinberg, executive director of the ACLU of Tennessee. “Today’s consent decree ensures that the Smith County schools will be focused on providing a quality education to all students, regardless of their religious beliefs.
The judge wrote that the school acknowledged it had allowed:
– The delivery of prayer over the public-address system at events such as graduations and football games, accompanied by requests for attendees to bow their heads and pray.
– Coaches to participate in prayer with students before and after sporting events.
– The…
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