Bullied Teachers in Georgia

Earlier this year, Americans United for Separation of Church and State (AUSCS) began complaining to the Bulloch County school district about perceptions of excessive religious expression by teachers and other staff. What ensued was apparently an atmosphere of fear and censorship.

Teachers and staff of Georgia schools alleged “intimidation, discrimination, and even censoring of their religious liberty” by Bulloch County school district officials.

The Bulloch County Schools made national headlines when Fox News commentator Todd Starnes posted an article citing criticism of the school for taking down a public bulletin board where teachers traditionally displayed Christmas cards. Suddenly and mysteriously, the display vanished.

Although the School Board accused Starnes of “terrorizing” the schools, other problems have surfaced. Among them:

– Teachers and staff ordered to walk away from student-led prayer.

– Teachers told to remove Bible verses or religious sayings from computer screen savers, emails, and other locations.

– A school Christian group allegedly abruptly prohibited access to bulletin boards that had before been open to them.

One pastor at the School Board meeting testified that school officials told teachers in his congregation that they had no religious rights during school hours.

In this troubling case of blatant hostility to religion, Liberty Institute is representing teachers and staff of Georgia schools who have alleged “intimidation, discrimination, and even censoring of their religious liberty” by Bulloch County school district officials.

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