Thursday, December 13, 2007

Tennessee Trial Under Way Over "Praying Parents" In School

The Tennessean is giving extensive coverage to the trial that began in federal court in Nashville on Wednesday in Doe v. Wilson County. (See prior related posting.) The suit charges that Lakeview Elementary School in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, unconstitutionally endorsed particular religious beliefs. At issue are activities in the school of a group known as Praying Parents, which was given a link on the school's website, allowed to run announcements in the school's newsletter, leave "you've been prayed for" cards for teachers and students, and send announcements home with students. News articles cover the testimony of one of the Praying Parents; testimony of the anonymous plaintiff who objected to See You at the Pole and National Day of Prayer events at the school; and testimony of the school's former principal who said that he would have allowed other groups equal access to the school's website and to distribute flyers. An article today summarizes testimony so far.