The Freedom From Religion Foundation is pleased to report that elementary school students in Russell County Public Schools are no longer being exposed to an outsized religious reference. 

FFRF had learned that a bible verse, Philippians 4:13, was displayed on the wall inside Honaker Elementary School in full view of the students. The verse this cites reads: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” 

“To protect students’ First Amendment rights, the district must remove this bible verse from Honaker Elementary School, as well as any other religious displays it becomes aware of in its schools,” FFRF Anne Nicol Gaylor Legal Fellow Kyle J. Steinberg wrote to the district. 

Religion is a divisive force in public schools, and the district is in breach of the secular Constitution when it allows its schools to display religious symbols or messages, FFRF asserted. “The display of Philippians 4:13, a New Testament verse that directly references Jesus Christ, violates this basic constitutional prohibition by creating the appearance that the district prefers religion over nonreligion and Christianity over all other faiths,” Steinberg’s letter said. 

Thanks to FFRF’s missive, Honaker Elementary’s captive audience of young and impressionable students can now enjoy a school building from inappropriate proselytization.

Superintendent Kim Hooker reached out to FFRF to confirm that the New Testament reference has been removed. “The scripture has been removed that was located beside the tiger paw. I have attached a picture to show the change,” she wrote in an email. The included photo showed the updated logo, with a new outline and the biblical reference painted over.

FFRF is always gratified to help school districts return to compliance with the Constitution, which protects the right of conscience of students and parents to be free from indoctrination in public schools.

“When public property is used to promote religion, FFRF is happy to see the changes a fresh coat of paint can bring,” FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor says. “Our public schools are for education, not indoctrination, and religion in schools always builds walls between children. There should be no pressure on small children to conform to majority religious beliefs.” 

The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a national nonprofit organization with about 42,000 members nationwide, including more than 1,000 members in Virginia. FFRF’s purposes are to protect the constitutional principle of separation between church and state, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism.

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