A Colorado school has reportedly told students that praying, singing hymns and discussing religion during free times violates the U.S. Constitution. Pine Creek High School is now involved with a lawsuit for prohibiting students from gathering during free time to engage in religious activities.
Pine Creek High School senior Chase Windebank said that he had been gathering with students during free time for three years to talk about religious issues, pray and sing songs such as “Amazing Grace” until he was asked to see Assistant Principal James Lucas on Sept. 29.
Windebank’s attorney James Tedesco said, “He was told that he could pray before the school day begins or after the school day ends but he could not do it during the school day.”
According to the school district’s attorney, “No non-curricular clubs are permitted to meet during that time period at Pine Creek High School. Therefore, Mr. Windebank may resume his prayer meetings at Pine Creek High School, but he must do so during non-instructional time, that is before 7:45 a.m. when classes begin, and after 2:45 p.m., when classes end for the day.”
Tedesco said that restricting religious expression is unconstitutional.
“Students have the right to pray during the school day and they certainly have the right to use free time to engage in religious expression – like prayer,” Tedesco said.
Publication date: November 11, 2014
