Atheist Group Pushes Arkansas Public School to Remove “One Nation Under God” Bulletin Board Display

An atheist group from Wisconsin recently issued statements celebrating that it had persuaded a public school in Arkansas to remove a “divisive” bulletin board display that read “One Nation Under God.”

In August, the Bergman Elementary School posted pictures of dozens of patriotic displays as part of a back-to-school bash. One of the photos showed a bulletin board display of the United States of America with a cross and the words “One Nation Under God.”

The Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a letter to the superintendent of the Bergman Public Schools calling the bulletin board “unconstitutional” and claiming, “Religion is a divisive force in public schools.” Last month the atheist group issued a statement celebrating that the display had been replaced.

This is not the first time the FFRF has targeted public schools in Arkansas.

Last year, the group complained about student-led prayer at a Highland School pep rally even though students have the right to pray at school and school events.

In 2023, the group complained about “religious themes and messaging” during a Lake Hamilton school halftime performance.

In 2019, the group demanded Pea Ridge Public Schools suspend public prayer at school board meetings and ballgames even though courts have held that public bodies are free to pray before their meetings.

In 2014, FFRF issued statements against ASU football players wearing crosses to honor a deceased teammate.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has even complained about the fact that that Arkansas’ public school students can study the Bible academically — even though the U.S. Supreme Court has clearly said these kinds of classes are constitutional.

Public school students and staff members do not lose their religious freedoms when they walk into a school building. When it comes to religious liberty, public schools have been a battleground for more than 60 years. That’s why it’s important to stand up for religious freedom at school.

In the case of the Bergman Elementary School, it’s hard to argue that a cross display with a quote from the Pledge of Allegiance violates the First Amendment — especially when it is one of many different types of displays the school allowed.

Religious freedom is a fundamental right. Ironically, groups like the Freedom From Religion Foundation actually infringe that right when they try to purge religious expression from every part of public life.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.