Parents sue school district over religious song

Examiner - March 25, 2009


Associated Press


JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Parents are suing the St. Johns County School Board saying a teacher made their children learn a religious-themed song for an end-of-the-year program.


The lawsuit, filed last week in federal court, says "In God We Still Trust," interferes with the parents' right to raise children according to their own beliefs.


The song was cut before the lawsuit was filed after another parent complained. But the lawsuit says they are still entitled to damages because their children were required to learn the song. They are seeking to bar the district from the "religious instruction" the song represents.


School Board attorney David Marsey says the issue differs from school prayer because public school choirs historically have been permitted to sing religious songs.


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