Just Say No to Religious Anti-Drug Presentations

ACLU Nebraska today issued a statement to every public school Superintendent in Nebraska, warning of potential First Amendment violations.

The letter describes how ACLU Nebraska has had repeated complaints from across the state about outside speakers being invited into the school to present on a topic such as rejecting drugs and alcohol. “Instead of giving a presentation on an important subject like drunk driving, though, the speakers end up exhorting the children to become Christians,” noted ACLU Nebraska Legal Director Amy Miller. “Some complaints have described the revival show atmosphere that happens in the school gym, complete with music and the speaker asking all the students who now will accept Jesus Christ’s narrow path to come down front with him.”

The letter singles out two Nebraska speakers for particular attention: Keith Becker and Ron Brown. “Both men have made it perfectly clear: they intend to convert children to their own religious beliefs while the students are in school away from their parents’ guidance. Neither of these men can be safely invited to a public school without the school broadcasting their deliberate intention to violate the religious rights of families,” said Miller. “But we’re also encouraging schools to do research before inviting any outside speaker, because Becker and Brown aren’t the only problematic ones. They are just the homegrown examples that have crossed the line repeatedly.”

ACLU Nebraska has asked any parent or student to contact their office if an outside speaker or event tries to promote religion during a school event. “We will very seriously review any complaints in order to decide whether a lawsuit is necessary,” explained Miller. “But we prefer for it never to get to that point. Instead of evaluating a complaint after some child has been subjected to religious endorsement, though, we hope the Superintendents statewide will now be alert to this problem before it arises.”

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