Humanists Halt Indoctrination of Kindergarteners in Texas Public School

For Immediate Release

Contact:

Kate Uesugi, kuesugi@americanhumanist.org, 808-228-6471

(Washington, D.C., March 3, 2021) — In response to the American Humanist Association (AHA)’s legal director threatening Texas school officials with legal action over indoctrination in kindergarten classrooms, Round Rock Independent School District counsel provided AHA’s lawyer today with written assurances that the unconstitutional conduct will not continue.

AHA’s Legal Director and Senior Counsel, Monica Miller, sent a warning letter to school officials on February 23, 2021. In the letter, Miller details that a kindergarten teacher at Chandler Oaks Elementary School uses the “moment of silence” practice during instructional time to encourage students to pray and influences students to attend church. The letter demanded a response by March 9.

Today, the school district responded to Miller’s nine-page letter by stating that, “we have directed the teacher to refrain from engaging in any behavior that could be perceived as encouraging prayer and/or church attendance.”

“We applaud the school district for cooperating with our efforts to stop public school teachers from unconstitutionally indoctrinating kindergarteners. Under Supreme Court precedent, these young citizens have the strongest right to freedom of conscience due to their impressionable nature and susceptibility to coercion.” Miller said.

Read the warning letter in full here.

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The American Humanist Association (AHA) works to protect the rights of humanists, atheists, and other nontheistic Americans. The AHA advances the ethical and life-affirming worldview of humanism, which—without beliefs in gods or other supernatural forces—encourages individuals to live informed and meaningful lives that aspire to the greater good of humanity.

Special thanks to the Louis J. Appignani Foundation for their support of the Appignani Humanist Legal Center.