KATY, Texas – A Katy seventh-grader told the school board her teacher tried to force students to deny God's existence. Since we told you about it Tuesday night, the story has gone viral. Now the school district is speaking out and saying none of the girl's classmates are backing up her claim.
The superintendent said the assignment should have never been given to students. The school board asked her classmates if the teacher forced them to deny God, but its investigation did not thoroughly examine the discussion after the girl's answer was challenged.
After Jordan Wooley stood before the school board expressing her concern over an assignment she received at West Memorial Junior High School, an Internet fire storm was set off. The statement on her reading assignment, "There is a God," sparked the flames.
The assignment asked students to label sentences as fact, commonplace assertion or opinion. Jordan was instructed to label "There is a God" as commonplace assertion. She said the teacher then questioned her faith.
"For one, I applaud Jordan's courage," said Katy ISD Superintendent Alton Frailey. "I think the response was prove your point."
He said after Jordan gave her response there was more discussion.
"Well I think this, well you think that. It was not a hostile thing, I don't believe," Frailey said.
According to the superintendent, after the school board conducted an investigation, interviewing students and the teacher, some of the allegations were determined to be unfounded.
"Nothing that the principal has found would enforce the assertions that the principal deliberately threatened or tried to force them to deny God," Frailey said.
"The assignment itself is greatly questionable. It a replay of God's not dead," pastor Dave Welch with the U.S. Pastor Council said.
Activists in religious rights organizations said a student should never feel harassed because of their expression of faith. The state Religious Viewpoint Anti-discrimination Act protects them and that right.
"Greatly concerned there is a lack of education on the part of the teachers and administrators about student's fundamental rights of free speech and religious expression," said Welch.
This is the teacher's first year at the school. According to the superintendent, she has placed herself on administrative leave.