School district abandons plan for Bible class after atheist complaint

A public school district in Georgia canceled its plan to sponsor a Bible class after an atheist group sent a letter of complaint.

The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) sent a complaint in September to the Oconee County Schools over its proposal to partner with a Christian group to allow high school students to enlist in a for-credit Bible class off campus during school hours, The Christian Post reported.

For months, the Oconee County Schools Board of Education has been endeavoring to allow students to enroll in a Bible class that would be conducted by the Oconee County Christian Learning Center.

In August, the proposal for the partnership was endorsed by clergy from seven churches.

According to Oconee Enterprise, Grace Fellowship Church and Briarwood Baptist offered the location to conduct the Bible classes. Additionally, Prince Avenue Christian School has proposed to lend its accreditation for the hiring of a teacher and director.

Some parents expressed their concerns regarding the separation of church and state while others were worried about the Bible being taught as absolute truth.

In its letter, the FRFF warned that the school district's partnership with the Christian learning center was unconstitutional and illegal.

The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment prohibits public school sponsorship or involvement in devotional school instruction. Just as Oconee County Schools cannot teach the bible as truth or creationism as science, it cannot give credit to students who receive those lessons outside schools," FFRF Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel wrote.

The FFRF also complained about coaches coercing students to lead the basketball team of North Oconee High School in prayers. A student reportedly suffered humiliation after he was unable to recite the Lord's Prayer.

The atheist organization announced on Nov. 11 that the plans for the Bible classes have been abandoned by the school district.

"The various incidents taking place in the Oconee school district are alarming. We're glad that we've been able to push back, on the partnership, as well as the praying, which also seems to have paused after our complaint," FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor said in a statement.