From The Associated Press, 3/20/05:
http://www.fayettevillenc.com/story....&Story=6908169

Family files suit over teacher's religious lessons

The Associated Press

RALEIGH -

A Cumberland County fifth-grader's family sued the county school
system in federal court because her teacher used a Christian text that
preached creationism and encouraged children to proselytize for Jesus.

The lawsuit was filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Raleigh.

The school system acknowledged in a separate filing that the
allegations were true.

Cumberland County officials said the religious materials that were
employed by the Sunnyside Elementary School teacher wouldn't be used
again.

One lesson the parents objected to said that "God's word tells us
about a kind of odor only Christians have."

Once a judge signs the agreement, the school system could face federal
criminal penalties for violating it.

"We made a mistake," said Cumberland County schools Superintendent
Bill Harrison.

"The only thing we can do is make amends and move on."

In November or December, Ashlee Nicole Smith, a school spelling bee
champion, showed the scent lesson and one other to her parents, Troy
and Mary Jane Smith of Fayetteville.

Principal's response

The suit says that when the parents complained to Principal Deborah
Anderson, she asked, "What's the problem? Don't you and your family go
to church?"

Anderson also told the parents she didn't understand their objections,
because Ashlee earned perfect scores on the assignments, the lawsuit
said.

Anderson promised that the practice wouldn't happen again, but in
February the girl brought home a worksheet that referred to God's
design as the reason why animals were colored to match their
surroundings.

Harrison said Cumberland County schools have a policy, mandated by
federal law, that bars teachers from endorsing any religion.

He said that Kristie Griffiths, the teacher, is a visiting faculty
member from Australia and did not understand U.S. standards.

She bought the text from a Christian publisher with her own money, he
said.

Harrison said the principal did not take the incident seriously enough
and failed to make sure the teacher stopped using the text.

Anderson declined to comment, and Griffiths could not be reached.

The teacher and the principal are still at Sunnyside, and Harrison
wouldn't comment on what discipline they might face.

Jon Sasser, the Raleigh lawyer who represents the Smith family, said
the parents filed suit because they wanted to make sure the practice
didn't happen again.

He said the Smiths, who also couldn't be reached for comment, believe
strongly in the separation of church in state.

"Ashlee's a fifth-grader, and she realized this was wrong," Sasser
said.

"This is light years beyond an invocation at a graduation or a moment
of silence at a football game. When you're proselytizing
fifth-graders, it's way over the top."

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