Kentucky teacher gave first-graders religious assignments, watchdog group says

A watchdog group that aims to enforce separation of church and state said Wednesday it stopped a public school teacher from assigning religious assignments to students in Kentucky’s Russell County Schools.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation said in a news release a community member told the group a first-grade teacher at Salem Elementary School was infusing her own religious beliefs into the classroom.

Students had been given overtly religious assignments as part of their class work, the news release said.

One example, the group reported, was an assignment with a worksheet titled “God Made Me Special,” with the instructions: God created everyone! The Bible says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:13). That means you are very special because you were created on purpose by God! Instructions: Complete the drawing to look like YOU! “

Another assignment was headlined “Jesus is King!” and required students to “Cut and paste the letters to spell the King’s name. Draw a picture of baby Jesus in the manger.”

On the teacher’s Facebook page, she posted photos of classroom activities, including building nativity puzzles and a detailed bright red poster about the religious origins of Christmas, the news release said.

“We write to request that the District investigate immediately,” Sammi Lawrence, lawyer for the Freedom From Religion Foundation, wrote Feb. 28 to Russell County Superintendent Michael Ford. “It is well settled that public schools may not show favoritism toward or coerce belief or participation in religion.”

The teacher repeatedly abused her position to instruct students about her religious beliefs, turning her public school classroom into a Sunday school, Lawrence wrote in her letter.

Parents, not public school teachers, have the constitutional right to determine their children’s religious or nonreligious upbringing, group officials said Wednesday.

Ford responded to group officials in an email, according to the news release from the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

He told the group and confirmed to the Herald-Leader Thursday that he had addressed the issue in a meeting with the principal and teacher.

“On March 4, 2025, I met with the teacher mentioned in the letter and the school principal. The situation has been resolved,” he said.

“To impose proselytizing assignments upon a captive audience of very young and impressionable students is a very serious misuse of authority by a public school teacher,” said Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of the foundation. “We are relieved that the school district took prompt action to stop this abuse and protect student rights of conscience.”

This story was originally published March 13, 2025 at 8:40 AM.