Parents and community members debate religious assembly, 3 Heath Brothers program in schools
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Summary
A series of public comments at the April 7 board meeting centered on concerns about a recent elementary-school assembly that parents say featured religious material. The band manager and the 3 Heath Brothers' manager spoke in favor of the program; parents and civil liberties advocates said the event crossed the line for a public school setting.
Several speakers during the public-comment portion of the Davidson County Board of Education meeting on April 7 raised concerns about a recently held elementary-school assembly the speakers said included religious material and handouts.
Lindsay Arnold, a parent, told the board that an assembly on March 11 involved all K'05 students and included songs with "strong religious themes" and a 104-page devotional that she said was distributed to students. "I am opposed to it being required in the public school day," Arnold said, adding that the event had been represented to some staff as an anti-bullying program but, she said, was "forced religious worship." She said the presence of a board member at the school that day and subsequent comments raised concerns about intimidation and lack of staff intervention.
Several speakers asked the board to take action. Arnold said she had contacted national organizations that defend First Amendment rights and was awaiting the district's response.
Jonathan Heath, manager for the 3 Heath Brothers, responded to the complaints, telling the board the group has performed more than 190 public-school assembly programs and that their presentations are "not a worship service." Heath said the programs are presented free of charge, feature upbeat music and messages about bullying and hope, and that they do not pray or evangelize in assemblies.
Other speakers supported allowing religious expression in schools. Trip Kester and another resident argued students have a right to express religious beliefs in school settings; Kester referenced constitutional protections and urged the board to ensure students can exercise religious expression.
Board materials and public comments included differing accounts about whether devotional materials were distributed and about who authorized the assembly. A speaker who said she had watched a posted social-media video described a handout that the school later clarified was being addressed. A district official told parents the principal should have vetted the visiting group and that schools would follow policy.
Speakers representing the Heath Brothers asked the board to allow assemblies and suggested parents could be offered opt-outs or pre-assembly information; Jonathan Heath said the group is willing to provide materials to parents and supports parental choice. He said their program is aimed at encouraging students and is not an attempt to evangelize.
Board members did not take immediate action during the meeting; the topic was part of public comment and the district said it would review the concerns. Parents requested a formal response and said they would pursue legal remedies if they believed constitutional rights were violated.