An Indiana elementary school teacher stirred controversy after sending a letter home to parents asking them to tell their children not to talk about God in the classroom.

An unnamed first-grade teacher at McCordsville Elementary School sent a letter home to parents on Aug. 23 saying a group of about five students had mentioned the words “God, Jesus and Devil” during a conversation in class, and that it wasn’t the appropriate place to be holding a theological debate.

“With McCordsville Elementary being a public school, we have many different religions and beliefs, and I do not want to upset a child/parent because of these words being used,” the letter read. “If you go to church or discuss these things at home, please have a talk with your child about there being an appropriate time and place of talking about it.”

Mt. Vernon Schools Superintendent Shane Robbins said a handful of parents complained about the letter, which he said was not previously approved by school officials, The Indianapolis Star reported Wednesday.

“In this situation, we want to be sympathetic to all our students with diverse backgrounds. But at the end of the day, they have the freedom to say things as long as it’s not disruptive to the environment,” he said.

Mr. Robbins said the teacher is new to the profession that this served as a learning opportunity for her. He said the teacher is still teaching the same class.

“From a school vantage point, it was a learning process for a young teacher,” he said.

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