Helen Hunt Jackson Elementary School (continued)

Whilst trying to solidify my thoughts concerning the previous post, I came across a bit of background information I thought interesting but too bulky to fit into my narrative.

Concerning the January 13th Demand Letter sent to the school district,,,

Attorney Robert Tyler, Advocates for Faith & Freedom’s general counsel in the case, demanded in the letter that TVUSD adopt a new policy “to prohibit school officials from expressing disapproval or hostility toward religion or toward religious viewpoints expressed by students.”

The letter also demands TVUSD provide a written apology to Brynn and allow her to complete her speech in class.

Advocates for Faith & Freedom threatened further legal action if an appropriate response is not received from TVUSD by Jan. 20.

[,,,]
Advocates for Faith & Freedom became involved with this latest incident following a meeting between the principal of the school and Brynn’s mother, Gina Williams. During the meeting requested by Gina, the principal allegedly informed her that California's Educational Codes support the teacher's actions.

“The principal explained that the school district has strict rules about sharing beliefs publicly because there have been lawsuits,” Tyler wrote. “The principal had apparently spoken to the teacher and said that the teacher had to stop Brynn because ‘we don't want to offend other students.’ Moreover, Gina was told by the principal that, ‘Brynn can write about her beliefs in her journal, in her class work and on her homework, but she is not allowed to share her beliefs aloud to other students.’”

The letter stated that Brynn was invited to recite her speech for the principal without any other students around.

In a follow-up email, the principal purportedly suggested to Gina that the teacher did not "stop" Brynn's presentation, rather the class ran out of time.

How I found out Starnes was involved:

A Fox News correspondent has been busted again for pushing a one-sided story claiming religious persecution of Christians.

Todd Starnes helped promote a story about a California first-grader who allegedly was not allowed to give a one-minute presentation about her family’s Christmas tradition because it included religious references.

As Right Wing Watch has reported, this is not the first time Starnes has been caught pushing poorly sourced stories claiming religious discrimination.

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Starnes did not, however, include any statements from the teacher or the principal, who were compelled to release their own after the story was picked up by religious groups and publications.

“Over the past week, I have received countless phone calls and 126 mean-spirited emails from across the country as a result of the claims that the Advocates of Faith and Freedom have made against one of my teachers, the school district, and myself,” said Principal Ami Paradise. “These claims are simply not true.”

Other targets of Starnes' poorly sourced reporting have reported similar harassment.