Yesterday's Fort Wayne (IN) Journal Gazette reported on a federal lawsuit filed last week by the Indiana ACLU on behalf of a 2nd grade student and his mother against the boy's teacher at Fort Wayne's Forest Park Elementary School. According to the complaint, after the boy, identified only as A.B., had a playground discussion with a classmate whom he told he did not go to church or believe in God, the classmate complained to the teacher, Michelle Meyer. The teacher told A.B. she was very concerned about what he had done, and for three days required him to sit by himself at lunch and not talk to other students because he had offended them. A.B. is now anxious and fearful about school, believing many teachers and students hate him, even though teachers subsequently told him he could believe what he wants.
The lawsuit only names the teacher personally as defendant, and not the school district. According to WTHR News, the district released a statement saying that "It is clear that it is not the province of a public school to advance or inhibit religious beliefs or practices...."
