A second-grade girl’s religious song is the subject of controversy in a California public school.

The Vintage Parkway Elementary School in Oakley, California, recently held auditions for their after-school talent show. Second-grader Bette Ouellette decided to perform sign language to one of her favorite songs and was praised by the judges for her talent. However, school officials barred her from participating in the talent show because the song she performed was Christian in nature.

Bette’s father believes the school overreacted, so he contacted the Pacific Justice Institute (PJI).

“I don’t think anybody in their right mind would watch a sign language performance by a second-grader and say to themselves, ‘What is the government trying to communicate to me?’” says PJI staff attorney Matthew McReynolds.

McReynolds says his organization sent a letter to the school explaining that it violated the student’s free-speech rights. Since then, school officials have not expressed any regret and were upset that the media got hold of the story.

“We’re still looking for an amicable resolution with the school district,” McReynolds adds. “We don’t want to have to file a lawsuit or anything like that.”

If the school district does not offer an apology, McReynolds says PJI will have no choice but to file a lawsuit. The legal firm has asked the school to clarify its position in the matter by Thursday (June 18).

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