Nashville, USA - A federal lawsuit filed on behalf of students has accused Cheatham County schools of promoting Christianity and violating the U.S. Constitution.
The complaint states the schools showed a pattern of endorsing religion that included the distribution of Gideon's Bibles in class, a teacher who has a cross on a classroom wall and sectarian prayers at school events.
"They let Bible promoters present their particular versions of the Bible during class time where there is compulsory attendance," said George Barrett, one of the attorneys for the plaintiffs. "It discourages honest citizens who have differing views from those of the dominant religion from participating in the public schools."
Tricia Herzfeld, staff attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, which filed the suit along with Barrett's law firm, said attorneys worked with the school district for six months to try to reach an agreement before suing.
Herzfeld said the district made some changes, such as removing Bible verses from a Sycamore High School Web site, but refused to address an ongoing pattern of First Amendment violations.
The suit, which seeks an injunction to stop the religious activities, was filed in Nashville on behalf of two current students and two former students.