After receiving a legal letter from FFRF, a Texas school district has taken steps to keep its commencement speeches secular and lawful.
It was reported to FFRF that during a commencement speech in the Quitman Independent School District in Quitman, Texas, a parent speaker quoted multiple bible verses in what should have been a secular speech. The parent also infused the speech with religious instructions, such as telling students to “seek the Lord for wisdom.”
FFRF Staff Attorney Sam Grover wrote to Superintendent Rhonda Turner on June 16 informing the district that the unconstitutional speech alienated non-Christian members of the school, and that graduations are not the place for a personal promotion of religion.
On Sept. 8, FFRF received confirmation from an attorney representing the school district that future commencement speakers and subject matter would be reviewed to avoid another constitutional violation.