Hardesty Public School District
Hardesty Public School District is a public school district in Hardesty, Texas County, Oklahoma, United States.
In May 2007 ABC News featured a report on religious discrimination the Smalkowski family suffered from Hardesty school officials.[1] The report included information about an ongoing lawsuit, which was filed by American Atheists on behalf of the Smalkowski family.[1] The lawsuit alleges the Hardesty public schools violated Nicole Smalkowski's (a 13-year-old girl) constitutional rights after kicking her off the school basketball team and suspending her for refusing to join a prayer circle at a sports event.[2] American Atheists cite school officials and other students harassed Smalkowski and her family because of her lack of religious beliefs, and in one case that the school principal assaulted her father. The school district disputes these claims.[3] The parties reached a settlement in October 2008, with the school district paying an undisclosed amount to the Smalkowskis.[4]
References
- 1 2 "Atheists in a town of Believers". ABC News. May 11, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-27.
- ↑ "Chester Smalkowski, Nadia Smalkowski, American Atheists v. Hardesty Public School District" (PDF). American Atheists. August 2006. Retrieved 2007-09-27.
- ↑ "Atheists file civil rights suit in Oklahoma Outrage". American Atheists. August 2006.
- ↑ Smalkowski Case Settled in Oklahoma
External links
- Hardesty Public School District – Official website