Religion Debate Forces School to Stop Christmas Drive

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — “We don’t have a big budget, we are not funded at the same level as other public schools,” says Renee Mathews, Director and Founding Principal of the East Point Academy. 

Mathews says she was shocked when she received this letter from the American Humanist Association. 

“They said that they were going to take immediate legal action against the school if we continued with Operation Christmas Child,” says Mathews

So, the school suspended the drive. 

“Parents have reached out and said, “We’ll take the boxes, we know where other drop off sites are,” says Mathews

This was the third year East Point Academy has participated in the drive that was supposed to end Friday.

According to the American Humanist Association a student’s parent contacted them about the program. 

We asked why the organization decided to step in this year. 

They responded, in part, by saying “This was the first year the American Humanist Association was aware of the school’s promotion of Operation Christmas Child. 

We have evidence that parents complained to the school last year about the program and that the school responded to the parents stating that it would not support Operation Christmas Child in the future. 

The organization also suggested the school partner with religion neutral organizations like “Toys for Tots.” 

Mathews says, they already do. 

She also tells me, they’ve had legal sources reach out to help, but she says the school could still end up paying. 

“If by even a technicality, for some reason it’s found against you, then you are liable. Even if someone volunteers the services, the school would be liable for all of the Plantiff’s fees,” says Mathews

Costs she says they cannot afford. 

We’re told the school stresses community service throughout the year. They have 8 projects just this year. So, there are other ways the children can give back to their community.