No Praying at High School Football Games: Complaint

NAPERVILLE, IL — A complaint lodged against Naperville Community Unit School District 203 claims that Michael Stine, a physical education instructor and football coach, along with other district employees, pray with student athletes at football games.

A “concerned local resident” directed members of the Freedom From Religion Foundation to a website that featured photographs of football players appearing to be kneeling in prayer during a Nov. 14 game against Waubonsie Valley High School, according to the Tribune.

A school district spokeswoman told the Tribune that administrators are looking into the allegations.

The complaint claims that prayers at football games are in violation of separation of church and state.

“When a public school employee acting in an official capacity organizes and advocates for team prayer, he effectively endorses religion on the district’s behalf,” Freedom From Religion Foundation officials Ryan D. Jayne and Diane Uhl wrote in the letter, according to the Tribune.

The photographs were taken by local photographer and Naperville Central graduate David Neesley, who told the Tribune he did not send the photos to the FFRF.

Neesley said that he just likes to “document stuff” and the photos of the players were “part of the game, and just one of those private moments,” he told the Tribune.