For Immediate Release

Contact:
Sam Gerard, sgerard@americanhumanist.org, 202-238-9088 ext. 105

(Washington, D.C., December 17, 2019)— In response to the American Humanist Association (AHA) legal team raising constitutional concerns to the Somerset Independent School District in Texas, Somerset Early Childhood Elementary school has removed an unconstitutional display. The display quoted from the Bible (Genesis 1) — “In the beginning God created…”—accompanied by a large representation of Earth below.

AHA’s Legal Director and Senior Counsel, Monica Miller, drafted a letter delivered to the school on Friday. On Monday, the parent that raised the initial concern to the AHA noted the display had been removed.

“We are pleased the school district promptly responded to our letter by removing the unconstitutional creationism display. While it never should have been posted, we applaud the school district for cooperating with our efforts to keep church and state separate.” Miller said.

The parent reacted to the removal of this display: “It’s a shame that there has to be some entity to make sure schools follow well set-out laws when it costs them nothing to adhere to them. I feel more confident that my [child] won’t have to confront any more religious teachings at school.”

Read the warning letter in full here.

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The American Humanist Association advocates for the rights and viewpoints of humanists. Founded in 1941 and headquartered in Washington D.C., its work is extended through more than 175 local chapters and affiliates across the United States. Special thanks to the Louis J. Appignani Foundation and The Herb Block Foundation for their support of the Appignani Humanist Legal Center.

Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism, affirms a responsibility to lead ethical lives of value to self and humanity.