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Coach Mark Mariakis addresses his players after practice at Ridgeland High School.Photo by Staff File Photo.
An advocacy group that first challenged religious practices from the Ridgeland High School football coach and team is questioning three more issues.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation still wants to know whether Ridgeland coach Mark Mariakis uses the Bible as a motivational tool at the Walker County school, whether athletes will continue to be fed at church before games and whether athletes are allowed not to participate in student-led prayer.
The Wisconsin-based foundation originally challenged school practices in early August. Thousands of supporters behind Mariakis and the right to pray before football games.
The most recent letter from the foundation, sent today, came in response to Walker school Superintendent Damon Raines’ letter, sent Aug. 30. Raines said he disagreed with some of the assertions made by the foundation, but said the school won’t allow preaching during football team meals at churches and won’t have the coach or a chaplain pray with the students before a game.
For complete details, see tomorrow’s Times Free Press.
Joy Lukachick is a crime reporter for the Chattanooga Times Free Press. Since 2009, she's covered breaking news, high-profile trials, stories of lost lives and of regained hope and done investigative work. Raised near the Bayou, Joy’s hometown is along the outskirts of Baton Rouge, La. She has a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Louisiana State University. While at LSU, Joy was a staff writer for the Daily Reveille. When Joy isn't chasing down ...
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