ACLU accuses local school of violating students First Amendment rights

The Louisiana American Civil Liberties Union says the principal at Walnut Hill Elementary and Middle School violated students First Amendment rights when he sent a letter to parents urging them to pray.

Principal Albert Hardison sent out a March newsletter to parents asking them to pray for students before they took their LEAP and PARCC tests.

Hardison also quoted a Bible verse from Phillipians 4:13 that says "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

The First Amendment of the Constitution forbids school-sponsored prayer and says that public school employees can not use their position to impose their personal beliefs on students.

The Louisiana ACLU says Hardison clearly violated his students First Amendment rights.

The Caddo Parish School Board released the following statement:

Caddo Parish Public Schools has commenced an internal investigation into an open letter sent by the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana. The district will certainly look into it and make certain there is no violation. In this instance, questionable materials subsequently have been removed from district webpages while the investigation continues. If there is a violation, we will make certain we act swiftly to ensure we do not have any further violations. Caddo Parish Public Schools works to ensure no constitutional rights are violated at any school. We take concerns and complaints seriously and make sure to follow the law.

At the same time, the district remains committed to protecting student freedoms. This includes their abilities tolead and participate in prayer and other religious activities, and we will equally continue to work to ensure student freedoms are not inhibited. Staff training will be scheduled in the coming weeks to refresh staff members regarding constitutional freedoms as well as limitations.

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ACLU accuses local school of violating students First Amendment rights