Atheists group issues reminder about freedoms to local schools

THE NEWS ENTERPRISE
By Katherine Knott

With the school year underway, the Kentucky branch of American Atheists has sent letters to public schools in Hardin, Jefferson and Fayette counties about religious issues. Johnny Pike, state director of the organization, said this is the first year the organization has sent such letters, and he wanted to raise awareness about common issues the association has seen. In the letter to school administrators, Pike said schools should keep school-events secular, which includes field trips. The organization particularly was concerned with field trips to Ark Encounter in Williamstown and Creation Museum in Petersburg. Additionally, he wrote school staff and employees shouldn’t lead or direct religious activities such as prayer, and said students do not have to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, citing Supreme Court decisions. [More]