A legal organization is representing a Kansas family in a complaint alleging that a Eureka elementary school violated students' constitutional rights during a classroom activity.
The American Center for Law & Justice, a Washington, D.C.-based legal group, filed a civil rights complaint Tuesday against the Eureka school district and Marshall Elementary School. The complaint stems from a late October incident during a sixth-grade guidance counseling session.
What Happened During the Class Activity
According to the legal organization, a guidance counselor assigned students a participation exercise called "Find Your Voice" where they identified personal role models. A student designated as a peer leader was writing responses on the board.
The complaint alleges that when one student named conservative activist Charlie Kirk as a role model, the counselor became uncomfortable and prevented the name from being written on the board, declaring Kirk was not a hero or appropriate role model. When another student chose President Donald Trump, the counselor reportedly reacted more strongly, stating that political and religious figures could not be included.
A Eureka parent told local media that another student's choice of Jesus was also rejected during the exercise.
The legal group claims that other potentially controversial non-political figures were permitted, and that students could include religious and political figures in written work but not publicly acknowledge them on the board.
The Complaint's Allegations
The American Center for Law & Justice accuses the district of religious discrimination, political viewpoint discrimination, free speech violations, and retaliation. The organization particularly criticized what it describes as school administrators instructing students to bring concerns to teachers or the principal first rather than directly to parents.
The legal group characterizes this as violating parental rights and child safety principles.
School officials reportedly discussed the matter in executive session during a December 8 school board meeting, but according to the complaint, no public response or corrective measures have been announced.
The organization states that their client has removed her children from the school.
Official Responses
Marshall Elementary School Principal Stacy Coulter declined to comment on specifics, citing student and employee privacy protections and confidentiality laws. Coulter said the school works with families and staff to ensure positive learning experiences for all students.
U.S. Representative Ron Estes, whose district includes Eureka, issued a statement calling the incident alarming and describing it as political censorship that undermines trust between schools, students, and parents.