A Vigo County School Corp. middle school earlier this month removed a classroom Christian display after notification from a national state/church watchdog that the display violated the U.S. Constitution.
In a news release, the Freedom From Religion Foundation said it was “pleased to report that the Vigo County School Corp. has removed Christian displays from a classroom after a communiqué” from the organization.
The foundation said a concerned district parent informed it that a teacher at Honey Creek Middle School had a Latin cross and a Bible quote hanging on the wall of the classroom.
The quote on display was Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
The foundation said it wrote to the district “to protect the First Amendment rights of the school’s students,” according to its news release.
It argued the school district violated the Constitution when it allowed a public school to display religious symbols or messages.
In a statement emailed to the Tribune-Star, VCSC Superintendent Chris Himsel said, “We recognize the fact that we serve many families and employ many people who exercise a variety of different religious beliefs and practices. As a public school corporation, we also recognize that we must balance an individual’s right to exercise one’s religious beliefs in a manner that does not intentionally or unintentionally force the beliefs onto others.”
Said the Freedom From Religion Foundation, “Courts have continually held that public school districts may not display religious messages or iconography in public schools. The display violated the basic constitutional prohibition by proselytizing students and creating the appearance that the district preferred religion over non-religion, and Christianity over all other faiths.”
It also claimed the religious display “needlessly alienated the students who are part of the 49% of Generation Z that is religiously unaffiliated.”
Foundation representatives wrote to Himsel, “In recognition of the district’s constitutional obligation to remain neutral toward religion, please remove this cross and bible verse display from [the] classroom, as well as any other religious displays [the district] becomes aware of in its schools.”
A letter from a VCSC lawyer informed foundation that the displays had been removed.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation says it is a national nonprofit organization with over 40,000 members and several chapters across the country, including more than 500 members in Indiana. Its stated purpose is to protect the constitutional principle of separation between state and church, and to educate the public on matters relating to non-theism.
