A Texas school district cut a three-week prayer event short after a secular group from Wisconsin sent a complaint letter. The Burnet Consolidated Independent School District announced on Facebook that their “Pray To The First Day” event would begin on July 26 and end on the first day of classes, August 16.
The post listed the district’s three elementary schools, a middle school, and two high school campuses as prayer recipients. It also included various district administration members and employees. The sentiment of praying or encouraging people to pray is not hurting anyone.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) sent a letter to Burnet Consolidated Independent School District Superintendent Keith McBurnett. The letter was from Samantha F. Lawrence, the FFRF’s Anne Nicol Gaylor Legal Fellow. It complained about how encouraging prayer is wrong.
Students already have the right to pray in school. It is not forbidden. But the vast majority choose not to, which is @RepMattGaetz's real concern. He wants to allow adults to coerce students into participating in Christian prayer. https://t.co/X7rURZf6fW
— FFRF (@FFRF) August 9, 2023
The letter states, “Here, the District is displaying clear favoritism towards religion over nonreligion by promoting and encouraging prayer.” If that is the logic we’re going with, then the same should go for encouraging pride and LGBTQ+ in schools. When you point one finger, three fingers are pointing back to you.
If prayer makes some people uncomfortable, imagine what parents feel when they hear the government wants to teach their 3rd graders about exploring gender identity. What the left is doing in schools is also showing favoritism toward a group of individuals via encouragement and promoting personal beliefs.
The letter sent to the Texas school district stated, “The District serves a diverse community that consists of not only religious students, families, and employees but also atheists, agnostics, and those who are simply religiously unaffiliated.” This isn’t the first time the FFRF has gone after Texans and their pesky prayers.
“By promoting prayer, the District sends an official message that excludes all nonreligious District students and community members.” It also cited that the District’s pro-prayer event excluded over 30% of those not faith-based. The letter and signers ultimately demanded the campaign cease to continue.
Superintendent McBurnett responded to the letter via email, confirming that the Facebook post with the details of the prayer event has been deleted. Perhaps the FFRF’s response to the district agreeing to cancel was the most unsettling part.
“A school district does not need to pray for their students and staff. It needs to focus instead on providing a secular education free from religious indoctrination.” There is something very grim about that statement. Not just grim but frustrating.
These woke leftists are okay encouraging (and helping) children hide information from their parents; they’re okay pushing inappropriate “curriculum” and allowing biological males into female restrooms; they’re okay with kids mutilating and harming their healthy developing bodies. Yet prayer is somehow the problem.
