Jonathan Anderson, father of a student at New Heights Middle School, sued Chesterfield County School District in December 2011 for violating his family’s First Amendment rights. The lawsuit came after the middle school held a school assembly including a sermon, Christian rapper, and prayer with local church members where students were encouraged to pledge themselves to Christ.
This assembly was not an isolated event. The school, and the district, had a pattern of blatantly endorsing Christianity with official prayer at school events, staff participation in religious clubs, and religious messaging and iconography displayed throughout the school, including a cross in the school mascot. Jonathan’s son, an atheist who appears in the lawsuit under the pseudonym “J.A.,” reported feeling extremely uncomfortable as he was often coerced into participating in religious practices that did not align with his personal beliefs, facing ostracization from students and staff alike. Represented by the ACLU of South Carolina and the ACLU Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief, Jonathan’s father filed a lawsuit against the school district for breaking the Establishment Clause under the First Amendment, which forbids government entities, including public schools, from endorsing or promoting religion.
Why this case?
The First Amendment not only protects citizens' rights to practice (or not practice) religion as they choose, but also prohibits government institutions, like public schools, from endorsing any religion over another. In Chesterfield County, the school’s persistent promotion of Christianity meant that students who did not share these beliefs faced a hostile environment of harassment and exclusion.
The latest
In January 2012, as a result of the lawsuit, Chesterfield County School District agreed to a consent decree – a legal agreement requiring that its schools cease all promotion and endorsement of any religion over another. This means that school events can no longer include organized prayer, religious speakers or messages, or any other activities that promote a specific faith. The decree also includes protections for students, ensuring that students will not be penalized for reporting violations of this agreement to the ACLU. This victory reinforces the principle of neutrality when it comes to religion in public schools, ensuring that all students regardless of their beliefs feel safe and respected.
