A southwestern Indiana school district has told its staff members to avoid taking part in student-led prayers.
According to a story in the Princeton Daily Clarion, the South Gibson School District has told its school staff to not participate in student led prayer after a complaint from the “Freedom from Religion Foundation”. The organization made the complaint after a photograph showing the Gibson Southern football team and coaches bowing in prayer after a home football game on November 2 was placed on social media. In the complaint, the FERE reminded the school corporation that it was unconstitutional for public school coaches to lead their team in prayer.
In responding to the complaint, the South Gibson Schools attorney, Robert Kinkle said that while staff has been told to avoid participating in student initiated prayer, students “certainly have the right to engage in prayer on school property. Kinkle said students can do pray at school events or during the course of the school day, as long as they don’t disturb classroom activities. Kinkle also said that staff members still have supervisory responsibilities at school events and that supervising staff may likely be in the area when students pray. In those instances, while they cannot participate, staff members can stand by respectfully.
