A Florida student was reprimanded this week after saying "God bless America" at the conclusion of the morning announcements.
A Nassau County School District spokesperson Sharyl Wood confirmed that the Yulee High School student went off script on February 9, and was punished.
"It wasn't part of the scripted morning announcements," Wood told Fox News. "The principal took the appropriate steps in speaking with the student and disciplining the student."
Reportedly, two atheist students complained about the off the cuff declaration to the American Humanist Association (AHA), who sent a letter to the school through their Appignani Humanist Legal Center.
It is inappropriate and unlawful for a public school to start the school day with an official statement over the intercom stating, 'God Bless America,' for such a statement affirms God-belief, validates a theistic worldview and is invidious toward atheists and other nonbelievers," the letter read.
"The daily validation of the religious views of God-believers resigns atheists to second-class citizens," the AHA continued. "Because attendance is mandatory, the students have no way of avoiding this daily message either."
The school issued a swift apology to the atheist organisation.
"I want to point out that the statement 'God Bless America, keep us safe' that was made last week on the morning announcements was not approved by school Administration nor was it in the scripted announcements," Principal Natasha Drake wrote in response.
The student on his own accord made the statement. I have called the student in this morning and directed him that at no time is he to add or take away from announcements that have been pre-approved and that if he did it again, he would no longer have the privilege of making the morning announcements."
According to Fox News, the district declined to reveal how the student was punished for his action.
