A Louisiana middle school has heeded FFRF’s warning over a serious constitutional violation.
FFRF took action after it learned that a “Field Day” event hosted by Scott M. Brame Middle School in Alexandria, La., was sponsored by the school’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes and staffed by the Philadelphia Baptist Church.
During the school-day event, the church representatives, stationed at tents, proselytized students. FFRF was further alerted that the school had plans to begin a partnership with the church in the fall. FFRF Staff Attorney Sam Grover sent a letter to Rapides Parish Schools Superintendent Nason Authement on Aug. 3, warning the district that inviting, or allowing, a religious organization into the school to indoctrinate students is a far-reaching constitutional violation. FFRF requested that the district investigate the situation and halt any planned church-school partnership with the Philadelphia Baptist Church.
On Sept. 8, Authement responded, informing FFRF that the violation and other Establishment Clause issues would be addressed with district administrators at a scheduled in-service.