Little Girl Denied Bible Club in School

Recently a sixth grade girl wanted to begin a Good News Bible Club that would meet at her school at the same time other clubs meet on school grounds. Her principal told her no, claiming that having such a religious club in the school was illegal. The principal said that those opposed to religious expression had been pressuring the entire school district to prevent any such activity in the school. The student’s parents contacted the ACLJ.

Unfortunately, we learn of incidents like this all the time despite the fact that we have been successfully defending students’ religious rights for over two decades, arguing several landmark cases before the Supreme Court, and helping to establish a clear legal precedent.

Upon learning of the girl’s story, we sent a demand letter to the school explaining that the Constitution does not prevent student-led religious clubs in school. The Constitution explicitly prohibits discrimination against such clubs. The Supreme Court has made abundantly clear that students and teachers do not “shed their constitutional rights . . . at the schoolhouse gate.”

In fact, a Supreme Court case argued by ACLJ Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow directly addressed this little girl’s situation. The Supreme Court specifically held that public secondary schools that receive federal funds and allow non-curriculum-related clubs to meet on campus must also allow Bible clubs and prayer groups to meet on campus during non-instructional time.

At this particular school there was a card games club, a Disney movie club, a fingernail painting club, a friendship club, a gardening club, and many other clubs. Clearly, this little girl’s proposed Bible club was constitutional and the school was in violation of federal law for refusing to allow her to start the club.

We are pleased to report that after receiving our letter, the principal informed the girl that she would be allowed to start her Bible club.

The law is clear, but there are still school administrators who believe they must ban everything that has any Christian reference – either because of ignorance or anti-Christian bigotry. We will continue to defend students facing religious discrimination.

2011 has been a year of victories for the ACLJ. Please read more about some of the other successful cases that the ACLJ handled this year.