LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — An appellate court has ruled that a school district cannot offer prayers during mandatory staff meetings, whether or not a teacher who was offended by them is present.
The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a ruling issued Aug. 24, said the U.S. District Court in Little Rock, Ark., correctly issued an injunction against prayers during DeValls Bluff School District staff meetings but did so for incorrect reasons, the Associated Press reported.
The appellate court based in St. Louis said an injunction that benefits art teacher Steve Warnock should have been ordered because the school district endorsed a religion and not because Warnock took offense. “We believe that prayers at mandatory teacher meetings and in-service training conveys … a decisive endorsement,” the appellate court wrote.
In 1999, Warnock, who also is a bus driver, sued the district claiming it openly promoted Christianity and he was harassed by district officials.
The appeals court upheld a $1,000 award to the teacher, rejecting his claim that he should receive more funds because he was harassed after making a complaint.
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