American Humanist Association says St. Mary Parish School District has replied to school prayer complaint (pdfs)

The following is an email from the American Humanist Association about its school prayer complaint and the response by the St. Mary Parish School District.

Louisiana School District Ends Prayers at Student Assemblies
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Merrill Miller, 202-238-9088 ext. 105, merrillmiller@americanhumanist.org
David Niose, 202-238-9088 ext. 120, dniose@americanhumansit.org
Monica Miller, 202-238-9088 ext. 119, mmiller@americanhumanist.org
(Washington, D.C., Nov. 19, 2014)—Today the American Humanist Association’s Appignani Humanist Legal Center received a response from the St. Mary Parish School District in Centerville, Louisiana, concerning a prayer led by an adult at a mandatory Veterans Day assembly at a district high school. The school district provided the legal center with written assurances that including prayer at school events violates the district’s policy and that similar incidents will not take place in the future.
“We’re pleased that the school district will now comply with the Establishment Clause and not promote prayer or religion,” said Monica Miller, an attorney with the Appignani Humanist Legal Center.
On November 11, students at Morgan City High School attended an event on school grounds commemorating Veterans Day, which included a Christian prayer led by an adult. Students were instructed to stand and bow their heads. One student who attended the assembly objected to the religious exercise but did not leave the assembly for fear of punishment. The Appignani Humanist Legal Center contacted the school district yesterday on her behalf.
“Schools should be educating students, not promoting religion,” said Roy Speckhardt, executive director of the American Humanist Association. “When prayers are led by teachers or administrators, it shows a lack of respect for religious minorities and students with no religion.”