Starnes laid the sympathy on thickly and you can almost see his tears as you read his words:

“So if you happen to be walking by the choir room at Pine Creek High School you will no longer hear young people praying for their classmates,” he wrote. “You will no longer hear teenagers reading from the Bible. And you will most certainly not hear the sweet sounds of Christian young people singing about that Amazing Grace.”

The school handbook describes the “seminar” period as “an opportunity to develop a sense of community; to build lines of communication; to provide community and school services; and to have focused academic time. In addition, students will often have time to access the resources available to them at Pine Creek. These include peer tutors, teachers, counselors, administrators and the library. Club meetings may be scheduled during this time.”

In other words, this is instructional time, not a free period. The school has the right to ensure that the students are doing something academic.

In light of that, is the school violating Windebank’s rights? The facts don’t seem to be on the ADF’s side.

I contacted Pine Creek High School to get their side of the story. Nanette Anderson, a school district spokeswoman, provided the following statement, which I am listing in full:

“There is no Open Time Policy, written or unwritten.

“The period of time referenced by the complaint is seminar time during which students report to an assigned seminar class where attendance is taken. This time is counted as academic time toward the minimum hours of instruction that schools are required to provide by state law, and therefore, must be used for academic purposes.

“On Mondays and Wednesdays students in good academic standing may leave the seminar classroom to participate in curriculum-related activities such as studying in the library or with study groups, seeking individual assistance from staff members, or meeting with curriculum-related clubs.

“Seminar is not a period of time during which students may engage in non-curriculum-related activities, religious or otherwise, or participate in non-curriculum related clubs. Non-curriculum-related groups, which include religious groups, are permitted to meet both before and after instructional time.”

Based on that, it seems “seminar” time is not equivalent to a free period. It’s part of the academic day and students are supervised by teachers. Organized prayers, Bible reading and hymn singing would not be appropriate then, just as they would not be appropriate in the middle of physics class.

More: Another Scare Story: Religious Right Claims About Prayer at Colo. High School Don’t Hold Up