ICC Note: An Indiana school district recently decided to cease its prayer practice during kindergarten graduations following a complaint from the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF). The letter of complaint was first issued after the FFRF reportedly received a complaint from one of the students’ parents. The letter of complaint suggested that the practice was unconstitutional by violating the Establishment Clause and was especially wrong because the students in this case were so impressionable due to their age.

By Heather Clark

09/22/2016 United States (Christian News Network) – A school district in Indiana has agreed to no longer include prayer during its kindergarten graduation ceremonies after receiving a letter from a prominent professing atheist organization.

The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) sent a letter last month to Tony Whitaker, the superintendent of Springs Valley Community Schools, upon receiving a complaint from a parent, who it did not identify.

The parent had advised that the May graduation ceremony for Springs Valley Elementary School students included a prayer by a five or six-year-old student.

“Including religious rituals, such as prayer, in school-sponsored functions shows school endorsement of religion, which violates the Establishment Clause to the U.S. Constitution,” FFRF attorney Ryan Jayne wrote.

The Establishment Clause reads, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.”

“School events must be secular to protect the freedom of conscience of all students,” Jayne asserted. “It is coercive and inappropriate for the district to have a student lead other students and their parents in a prayer.”

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