Religion Inside the Classroom?

Parents in Grundy County say they're appalled and what's being taught in their kids' public school.  A child there says he felt his constitutional rights were infringed when he was forced to sing a song with religious references.  We talked with both the Tracy City Elementary School Principal and the Grundy County Superintendent.  Both say this happened during a religious program during school hours that is not mandatory.  But one parent says her son's rights and respect were trampled by the school.

Vicki Sampson agreed with what her fourth grade son said was wrong.  "He said there were a lot of religious overtones, he felt uncomfortable and he didn't feel that was appropriate in a public school, and I said, you're right."

That when he didn't sing a religious song about Jesus in a half hour program on Friday at Tracy City Elementary, he was told he'd be punished.  "He had been repremanded for not wanting to participate and I was infuriated, and thought well this is completely inappropriate for a public school."

Sampson says she has no problem with students believing in whatever religion they choose, but the problem comes when it's forced inside the classroom.  She says, "But I just don't approve of my son's school day being chopped up to incorporate religious activity, if you want that, it's something for the home, something for the church."

We called the principal here at Tracy City Elementary, Fugate, and he says the class is not mandatory and only meets once a month, but we had more questions as to exactly what the program replaces, and called the superintendent.

Superintendent Jody Hargis told us on the phone that the class is absolutely not mandatory, and that it does not infringe on the students rights or beliefs.  He went on to say that it takes places during an activity period students that don't wish to participate can choose other activities instead, that are of equal benefit to the student.

But Sampson says she was told a different story.  "The principal says he could put him in his office for 30 minutes."

And her son said he simply didn't have a choice on whether or not to attend the controversial class.  "He said he felt as though he had to go, all the others students did and they cut class short or skipped half to go to this particular function."