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Principal Bans Teacher from Church Event Where Students Will Be Present, Superintendent Steps in

  • Kayla Koslosky

    Kayla Koslosky has been the Editor of ChristianHeadlines.com since 2018. She has B.A. degrees in English and History and previously wrote for and was the managing editor of the Yellow Jacket …

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  • Updated Jan 30, 2019

A principal for a school in the Midwest banned a teacher from attending an event at her church because two of her students were planning on attending the event.

According to Liberty Counsel, a religious freedom watchdog and legal group, a teacher was barred from attending a church event by her school’s administrator because two of her students, who are also members of the church, were planning on attending the event. 

According to a statement on the Liberty Counsel website, the teacher contacted the Liberty Counsel to help her restore her first amendment right to freedom of religion. The organization was easily able to contact the district’s superintendent via phone, and they reversed the principal’s decision. 

WND reports that this is the second time they have had to intervene at this school district because of decisions made by the principal.

Last year, Liberty Counsel reports, that the Midwest school’s principal barred the same teacher “from leading an-after-school, adult-led Bible club which met with parent permission.” 

The teacher recused herself from the role, but when a student attempted to lead it, they were also prevented from leading the Bible club. 

Again, the teacher contacted the Liberty Counsel and the Superintendent reversed the decision.

Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel applauded the superintendent’s decision saying, “The superintendent correctly reversed the principal’s decision to ban teachers from attending the same church events as students. Teachers acting in their individual capacity after school have the same rights as any others who are not teachers.”

No information has been released to indicate that disciplinary action was taken against the principal at this time.

Photo courtesy: Kyo Azuma/Unsplash