by Jorge Gomez • 3 minutes
Taryn Israelson—a first-grade teacher at J.R. Smith Elementary School in Heber City, Utah—is being told that she cannot post a voluntary prayer chain in the faculty lounge.
Taryn began a voluntary prayer chain two years ago so that teachers and staff could opt-in to receive prayer or pray for others. She did her due diligence, went to Human Resources and received approval. Taryn then posted signs in the school faculty lounge inviting faculty members to participate and explaining how they could become involved.
But last fall, the school principal abruptly told Taryn to stop and forced her to remove the prayer chain.
This week, First Liberty and the law firm Mayer Brown sent a letter to the Wasatch County School District demanding that Taryn be allowed to put the voluntary prayer support chain back up.
“The Supreme Court has repeatedly held that the First Amendment requires public school officials to be neutral in their treatment of religion,” said Keisha Russell, Senior Counsel at First Liberty. “The principal’s actions demonstrate hostility towards religious expression which the Supreme Court has consistently said is unconstitutional.”
Taryn’s prayer chain is printed on regular, letter sized paper. One of her signs simply reads, “Need prayer? Want to help pray for others? Text Taryn to be added to the prayer chain.” She also asked three of her non-religious coworkers to make sure the wording wasn’t offensive.
Even so, the principal called Taryn in and told her school policy prohibited her from posting the signs because, “They’re in everybody’s faces.” Taryn also received an email from the principal:
“The faculty lounge is a public space accessible to all faculty and staff. As such, we do not advertise religious beliefs on district-owned property, such as the refrigerator, because the message appears to be endorsed by the District.”
But that’s just not the case. That’s an outdated understanding of what the Supreme Court has said about teachers and public employees expressing their religious beliefs on school property.
We point to the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, which made clear the government cannot censor private religious expression, even when it occurs on government property or in the presence of students and school employees.
Further, faculty members are permitted to post wedding or baby shower invitations, announcements for community plays, motivational quotes and other personal messages.
“The personal announcements and messages shared on the faculty lounge refrigerator do not constitute government speech,” our letter explains. “The sign represents Ms. Israelson’s personal religious speech, and no one could reasonably conclude that the District sponsors, endorses, or encourages anyone to participate in the prayer chain.”
“It is clear viewpoint discrimination when the principal allows other types of expression in the faculty lounge, but forbids a poster that encourages voluntary prayer,” Michael Menssen, Partner at Mayer Brown, explains. “It is unlawful for the school district to discriminate, prohibit or interfere with Taryn’s personal religious decisions and practices.”
The school’s actions are government hostility toward religious expression. They are unconstitutional and defy Supreme Court precedent in Kennedy. Schools should respect the rich history and tradition of religion in America as affirmed by the Supreme Court rather than punish those who cherish it.
The Constitution, as well as federal and state law, require government to treat religious Americans fairly. And that means every teacher or public employee in our country—whether religious or not—has a constitutionally protected right to express his or her viewpoints and beliefs. By rescinding the principal’s discriminatory policy, the Wasatch County School District can protect religious freedom for Taryn and all teachers.
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