An Oklahoma parent says her child’s freedom of religion was in jeopardy over a Valentine’s Day card.
The student used cards advertising a church service as his valentines. Those cards were confiscated by his teacher.
“It feels he’s been denied the right to express his love for his church and his faith,” said the boy's mom, Shelley Sweeden.
The card in question says "Happy Valentine’s Day" on the front and on the back lists a time and location for the family's church.
Sweeden said her son’s teacher snatched up all the cards.
“He was so excited to make them and took the time to write his name on them and to hand them out. By not being allowed to do that, it upsets me,” Sweeden said.
There’s no specific rule against Valentine’s Day cards or even religious invitations. But the school’s administration said the card is inappropriate.
Sweeden said her son gave out the cards during a party approved for her his second grade class.
“I wish every teacher would just kind of turn an eye too, because I don’t really think as many people are going to get offended as they think,” she said.
In a statement, Glenpool Superintendent Jerry Olansen said this of the district policy:
“No materials shall be supplied to students or posted in the district’s elementary school unless it is community-based, youth-related or school related.”
Sweeden said a lot of parents have stood by her in her choice to fight back.
She insists the cards weren’t disruptive, and her son was just sharing a part of his life.
The superintendent did say that next year they’ll consider changing the policy to make it more specific at that school.
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