West Orange High School was told to shut down its “Witchy Wednesday” televised morning announcement this week after a local Christian group complained the segment violated some students’ religious rights.
The Liberty Counsel complained to Orange County Public Schools that the broadcast made Christian students watch something that contradicted their beliefs. .
OCPS’s attorney agreed the segment contained “impermissible” religious content and told the school not to air it again.
The “Witchy Wednesday” segment, hosted by a student, discussed how moon phases can represent different chapters of life, how burning incense can “clear your surrounding energy” and described a ritual of writing “your intuition” on a piece of paper and burning it during the full moon, according to the Sept. 18 letter from the Liberty Counsel, an Orlando-based Christian ministry founded by attorneys.
“I am here to guide you through your magical midweek journey every Wednesday,” a student said in front of a black background, full moon and burning candles, according to the complaint.
The episode aired only on Sept. 10.West Orange High uploads its morning announcement videos to YouTube, but the Sept. 10 episode is not available.
Liberty Counsel said it had “been contacted by members of the West Orange High School community” about the segment.
Parents should be able to opt-out their children from such messages, or Christians students should be given a chance to “explain their faith in Jesus Christ,” the group said.
In a letter responding to the Liberty Counsel, OCPS attorney John Palmerini said U.S. Supreme Court decisions meant the segment should not have been broadcast to students. He referenced a case where the Supreme Court found a district policy permitting student-led, student-initiated prayer before football games unconstitutional.
“The segment was delivered over the school’s television system, on the school’s morning announcements under the supervision of school faculty. As such, we cannot constitutionally allow such a segment to continue to take place in the future,” Palmerini wrote.
But Palmerini also criticized the Liberty Counsel for sending its letter to the Orlando Sentinel and a TV station before the district had a chance to respond. He called it “disappointing” and “surprising” given that both organizations “share the same goal to ensure that all students have their First Amendment free exercise rights respected.”
In a Wednesday Facebook post, Alicia Farrant, a member of the Orange County School Board, applauded the district’s leadership for “quickly” shutting down the segment. She said she would continue to keep the focus on “classical education” and “wholesome topics.”
“The promoting of witchcraft has no place in our schools,” she wrote.
