Pointing out that US history is built on "freedom of religion, not freedom from religion," school authorities in Louisiana rejected a demand made by the civil rights group American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to stop all student-led religious activities in schools.
Responding to an ACLU letter demanding the removal of prayer references from a school, the Bossier Parish School Board ruled that Airline High School in Bossier City did not violate the Constitution as alleged by ACLU.
In a letter addressed to Supt. D.C. Machen, Jr. of Bossier Parish Schools last month, the ACLU said Airline High School "has engaged in a pattern of religious proselytisation by establishing 'prayer boxes' with Christian symbols throughout the school and by religious messages in newsletters posted on the school's website.
"This letter is to inform you that these practices violate the First Amendment of the US Constitution and comparable provisions of the Louisiana Constitution, and they must stop immediately," the ACLU said.
It particularly cited Airline High School principal Jason Rowland for writing "The Future Starts Today – May God Bless You All" in a message posted on the school website.
ACLU said the "the United States Constitution requires public schools to ensure that state-supported activity is not used for religious indoctrination."
It asked the board to order the removal of all prayer references from the high school website and other schools in the district and the prayer boxes.
However, in a unanimous decision, the board said Airline High School did not commit any violation.
"The Bossier Parish School Board is committed to honoring the state and federal law as it relates to the rights of all students, regardless of their religious beliefs," the board said in a statement, according to the Shreveport Times. "The Board and its administration welcome meaningful discussion of this and any issue but will base their decision on the law and facts as they know them to exist. Decisions in the best interest of our students can never result from threats and intimidation."
State Rep. Mike Johnson told Fox News that ACLU's action "is a campaign of fear, intimidation and misinformation. This is standard practice for the ACLU. What they hope will happen is they make these radical demands and the school board will bow to the pressure."
Johnson added, "This is a very conservative area. The ACLU picked the wrong sleeping giant this time."
"They've never even been to this school," he said. "They literally are trolling the Internet looking for things to be offended by. They are on a search and destroy mission for all things Christian."
