Mt. Vernon ISD Challenged by Freedom from Religion Foundation

MT. VERNON — An East Texas school district is standing up to a group’s challenge to religious expression on campus. The Freedom from Religion Foundation last week sent a complaint to Mt. Vernon ISD over religious sayings written on school walls as well as t-shirts being sold by the PTO. Superintendent John Kaufman says the 8 to 10 biblical inscriptions are among 175 historical quotes written on walls at all their schools. According to Kaufman, “We are leaving everything just as it is until our lawyers respond with what we need to do. We’re not gonna be overreactive in this.” He adds that students feel the complaint is an attack on their religious freedom –and, in response, have been wearing t-shirts to school with religious messages on them.