Oklahoma —

FFRF contacted the Poteau Public Schools system in Oklahoma after a parent reported their student was attending a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) club without their knowledge or consent.

The parent reported that Pansy Kidd Middle School was permitting an FCA club to operate and recruit students in the morning during school drop-off hours. FFRF was told that adult church leaders and school employees were often in attendance, participating in, and leading the FCA club, including leading students in prayer and other religious activities. The parent explained that the FCA club was allegedly authorized to operate in the mornings before school started, but the middle school was instead allowing the club to meet during morning drop-off. FFRF was told that during that time, students could be dropped off and were under the school’s supervision while they waited for classes to start.

FFRF’s complainant stated that their child was attending FCA meetings without their knowledge. They did not find out that the school was permitting their child to attend these religious meetings until their child came home with a bible. When the parent contacted the school, the school allegedly stated that the school was not required to have students bring permission slips to attend FCA or notify parents about FCA meetings even though the school was allowing FCA to operate during morning drop-off, and allowing outside adults to lure, interact with, and distribute food and religious literature to students on school grounds.

“Pansy Kidd Middle School’s practice of giving the FCA preferential treatment and allowing the FCA’s religious representatives unique access to its students in order to promote Christianity signals clear unconstitutional favoritism for religion over nonreligion, and Christianity over all other faiths,” FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote to Superintendent Scott Kempenich.

After receiving the letter, Kempenich emailed to confirm that action had been taken. “Pansy Kidd Middle School has worked with its attorneys regarding the issues you raised with us in July,” he wrote. “Among other adjustments, the school has made changes to ensure that any religious meetings held before school are led by students and that parental permission is obtained for participation.”

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