Group demands Humble ISD stop teachers from leading prayer

Children pray before aeting at a shantytown in Higuerote, 117 km east of Caracas on August 26, 2016, as part of a volunteer program. Thousands of Venezuelan children receive their school meals during holidays in an initiative to address food shortages affecting the country. / AFP / FEDERICO PARRA / Venezuela OUT (Photo credit should read FEDERICO PARRA/AFP/Getty Images) less Children pray before aeting at a shantytown in Higuerote, 117 km east of Caracas on August 26, 2016, as part of a volunteer program. Thousands of Venezuelan children receive their school meals during holidays ... more Photo: FEDERICO PARRA/AFP/Getty Images Photo: FEDERICO PARRA/AFP/Getty Images Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Group demands Humble ISD stop teachers from leading prayer 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A national non-religious advocacy group sent a letter to Humble ISD officials demanding they no longer allow teachers to lead prayers at schools.

The American Humanist Association sent the letter after an Eagle Springs Elementary parent reached out to complain that teachers were participating and leading prayer's at the school's "See You at the Pole" event on Sept. 28. The event, held nationwide and founded in Fort Worth, sees students and faculty gather at a school's flagpole to pray before classes begin.

Roy Speckhardt, executive director of the American Humanist Association, said non-Christian students are marginalized by teachers when they see them participating in sectarian, religious activities.

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“Public school teachers should be welcoming to all students, not appearing to privilege students of one religion over all others," Speckhardt said.

Humble ISD officials said "See You at the Pole" was not a school-sponsored event.

"Any participants at the event were acting as private citizens," officials said in a statement. "Humble ISD supports the First Amendment -- including freedom of religion, freedom of speech and the right to assembly."

This is not the first time the organization has targeted Eagle Springs Elementary.

Last year, the group complained to the district over a Christian radio station being given access to a class for programming purposes.

The Humanists are also involved with a lawsuit against the Birdville ISD over prayers at the school district's Board of Trustees meetings.