NEW ORLEANS — A Louisiana public school system has agreed to restrict promotion of religion to settle a lawsuit alleging that some teachers, coaches and school officials tried to coerce students into Christian activities in classes, graduation ceremonies and athletic contests.
If a judge approves, the agreement filed Wednesday will resolve a lawsuit brought last year by four parents who said officials in north Louisiana’s Bossier Parish school system unconstitutionally promoted religion.
The parents’ identities were kept secret because, the suit said, they feared their children, who attend Bossier schools, would be ostracized by classmates if their identities were known.
The system admitted no wrongdoing in the court filings in U.S. District Court in Shreveport.
The lawsuit said some teachers promoted their religion in classes, praying aloud and requiring students to memorize prayers.
It said one choir instructor selected mostly Christian songs for performances, and that student athletes were subjected to extensive religious promotion by school staff.
Settlement documents include a detailed eight-page policy, adopted by the Bossier Parish School Board, spelling out what is and isn’t allowed in matters involving religion on campus.
It specifically prohibits school employees from promoting their personal religious beliefs. It allows student-initiated prayers at school events but prohibits teacher participation.
“School officials shall not offer a prayer, recite a prayer alongside or with students, kneel, join hands or otherwise posture in a manner that is likely to be perceived as an endorsement of the prayer,” the policy says. “If, during a prayer a school official chooses to remain still and silent with hands folded, as a sign of respect, such action shall not alone constitute an endorsement.”
Teaching the role of religion in history, culture or the arts is allowed, but it must be done objectively.
Students can participate in religious clubs on campuses – the policy says that schools cannot discriminate against students who wish to conduct a meeting on the basis of religion – and school officials can be present to maintain order. But those officials cannot participate in the meetings.
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