Parents angry KY public school hosted Christian band & shared devotional pamphlets

Breathitt County Superintendent Phillip Watts confirmed Tuesday he has provided training to administrators after a parent objected to a school assembly that included a Christian band and distribution of a devotional pamphlet.

“I understand why some parents would have an objection to the concert by the 3 Heath Brothers Band and the way that event was handled,” Watts told the Herald-Leader Tuesday in an email. ”As a public agency, we want to respect the constitutional rights of all members of our community, and we are troubled when any parent believes we have fallen short of that obligation to them or their child.”

Freedom From Religion Foundation officials said in a news release that a parent reported 3 Heath Brothers, a nationally known Christian boy band, performed Sept. 16 for all students, including those as young as 6 years old, at Breathitt Elementary School in Jackson for a school-sponsored assembly.

Parents reportedly received no notice about the religious assembly, the news release said.

Freedom from Religion’s purpose is to protect the constitutional principle of separation between church and state.

The news release said 3 Heath Brothers distributed a “Keys for Kids” devotional pamphlet at the assembly. Keys for Kids is a youth ministry organization with a mission “to ignite a passion for Christ in kids, teens and families worldwide,” according to its website.

“The 100-page pamphlet includes explicitly religious stories with references to Bible verses, promotion of a religious podcast and solicitation of donations.

“For example, the booklet tells students, ‘Lots of kids don’t know they need Him to be saved from sin,’ and instructs ‘that such kids need someone to tell them — and Jesus may want you to be that person,” the news release said.

Freedom from Religion Foundation officials said a parent reported their child believed the pamphlet was a storybook their parents should read to them, which required the parent to discuss religion with their child before they were ready.

The parent had a timeline and curriculum for exploring religion with their child, but instead was forced into having this conversation due to the school’s actions, the news release said.

According to the Keys for Kids school webpage, “as the 3 Heath Brothers are invited into public schools, not only are they able to share their music with a message, but they’re able to hand out Keys for Kids and Unlocked devotionals to any student who wants one. As of December 2024, 15,000 devotionals have been handed out.”

Kyle J. Steinberg, a legal fellow at Freedom from Religion told the Herald-Leader Tuesday the group “is pleased that Breathitt County Schools is implementing training for its employees so that future school assemblies do not violate students’ rights.”

Steinberg said the group’s protest” should serve as a warning to school districts across Kentucky that assemblies featuring the 3 Heath Brothers will not go unnoticed.”

Leaders of the musical group did not immediately respond to an email from the Herald-Leader asking for comment.

“Elementary students cannot legally or practically be expected to dissent and leave what appeared to be a mandatory school assembly in order to resist their school violating their constitutional rights,” Freedom From Religion Foundation Legal Fellow Charlotte R. Gude wrote to Watts on Sept. 22..

“Further, the school violated parents’ First Amendment right to determine which faith, if any, they teach their children to believe.”

“The Breathitt school district acted quickly and appropriately in response. Watts emailed a reply the day after the Sept. 22 letter,” the group’s news release said.

Watts told the group the district would provide training and guidance for school administrators on issues relating to speakers/performers for student assemblies and events and on material distribution to students by outside groups. .

Asked in an email about that training, Watts told the Herald-Leader, “The only plan of action I identified in response was to provide the training referenced ... which has already occurred, and to work with our board attorney to determine if any action is needed concerning any prior incident. That consultation with our attorney is attorney-client privileged.”

Freedom from Religion officials said the school district is protecting the First Amendment rights of elementary school students.