Teacher told 10-year-old her religious project on Jesus was not allowed
Erin Shead, a fifth grader at Lucy Elementary School in Memphis, Tennessee, was told by her teacher in 2018 that her 'idol' assignment about Jesus Christ and her accompanying poster were not permitted at school. After local news coverage and a district review, officials reversed course and apologized.
In April 2018, Erin Shead, a 10-year-old at Lucy Elementary School in the Shelby County Schools system, completed a class assignment on her 'idol' by writing about Jesus Christ and creating a poster. Her teacher reportedly told her she could not bring the assignment because 'God isn't allowed in school' and asked her to redo it. After her mother spoke to local outlets, Shelby County Schools acknowledged the teacher's response was incorrect, restored credit for the original work, and stated student religious expression in personal assignments is protected.