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Houston Matters

Inside the Latest Battles in the Long War Over Prayer in School

Last year, the American Humanist Association sued the Birdville Independent School District, northeast of Fort Worth, over its practice of opening school board meetings with student-delivered prayers. In the year since, the two sides have tussled over motions to dismiss. Most recently, the school district has appealed to have the case against individual school board […]

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Photo: Michael Hagerty, Houston Public MediaLast year, the American Humanist Association sued the Birdville Independent School District, northeast of Fort Worth, over its practice of opening school board meetings with student-delivered prayers. In the year since, the two sides have tussled over motions to dismiss.

Most recently, the school district has appealed to have the case against individual school board members dismissed.

We discuss this case — and others like it from Texas and elsewhere — over prayer in public schools with Josh Blackman, associate professor of law at Houston College of Law.

Michael Hagerty

Michael Hagerty

Senior Producer, Houston Matters

Michael Hagerty is the senior producer for Houston Matters. He's spent more than 20 years in public radio and television and dabbled in minor league baseball, spending four seasons as the public address announcer for the Reno Aces, the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

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