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High School Principal No Longer to Speak at Prayer Event after Complaints from Atheist Group

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  • Updated Oct 26, 2015

The principal of a public high school in Texas has agreed not to speak at “See You at the Pole” school prayer events after being pressured by an atheist group.

Christian Today reports that Greg Wright, principal of Prosper High School, normally led prayers and delivered sermons at the annual “See You at the Pole” prayer event, but after the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) sent a letter to the school on behalf of a parent, Wright stepped down from leading the event.

Parent Janie Oyakawa contacted the FFRF about Wright’s involvement in the event, stating that she didn’t have a problem with Wright’s involvement with a religious event if he was at a Christian school, but that he did not have the freedom to be involved with religious events at a public school.

The FFRF’s letter to school superintendent Drew Watkins stated, “When a teacher or principal is on school property as part of the school day, even if it is before the official 8:24 a.m. start, they are there for their official duties, just as students are. School staffers cannot lead, encourage, or participate in student-led religious activity. And any religious event or religious club at a PISD school must be genuinely student-led."

In addition to denouncing Wright’s activities, the FFRF’s letter complained about a cross and a plaque with a religious saying that the school’s assistant principal kept on her desk.

“We understand that PHS Assistant Principal Grant displays a Latin cross and a plaque about god in her office," the letter said. "That these displays are in Grant's office is immaterial. Students enter her office regularly and the displays are orientated towards those student visitors."

School District attorney Charles Crawford said that teachers at Prosper High School will no longer be involved in religious activities or have any religious displays in school offices.

Photo courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

Publication date: October 26, 2015