The Freedom from Religion Foundation announced yesterday two separate complaints to school officials about religious activities. It has sent a letter of complaint (full text) to the Chesterfield County, South Carolina school superintendent over activities at a Jefferson (SC) middle school. At issues is a Sept. 1 school assembly billed as a "worship rally." The assembly featured a Christian evangelist and rap artist, and included handing out fake $1 million bills with proselytizing verses on them. The bills are pictured in FFRF's press release. The letter also complained about Christian crosses put up on the school lawn to commemorate 9/11, and about the school's promotion of an upcoming "See You At the Pole" prayer event.
In a separate letter (full text) to the president of the Jefferson Parish, Louisiana school board, FFRF raised questions about religious remarks made by the school board president during mandatory teacher in-service training sessions. The letter also raised concerns about e-mails to teachers and staff from the school board president in which he indicated he was praying for them. An FFRF press release and an article in the New Orleans Times-Picayune both report on FFRF's complaing.
