Sumner schools cut field trips to religious venues

HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. - Officials at Sumner County schools say students will no longer be allowed to take field trips to religious venues.

The Tennessean reports the move comes after a complaint from the stepfather of a Hendersonville High School student.

The school said it has offered an honors class in world studies for a decade in which students learn about different religions including Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hindu and Islam. They then visit religious venues.

Mike Connor said he complained after learning during an open house that the field trip for his stepdaughter would include only a mosque and a Hindu temple.

The school board decided this week to end the trips completely, saying it isn't feasible to give equal representation to all the religions studied in the course.

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