A California ethnic studies curriculum that asks students to chant and pray to Aztec gods is being challenged in court by a group of parents, who say the material violates both the U.S. and the state Constitutions.

Aztec gods

At issue is an 800-plus page Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum, which was adopted by the state in March and is being used by the state’s public schools. Among the activities, according to the lawsuit, is a group of “affirmations, chants and energizers” that invoke spiritual beings of the Aztec religion.

The lawsuit was filed against the state by the Thomas More Society on behalf of individual parents and taxpayers and the Californians for Equal Rights Foundation.

“Our clients are not opposed to having students learn about different cultures and religions, including the practices of the Aztecs,” said Paul Jonna, partner at LiMandri & Jonna LLP and special counsel for the Thomas More Society. “But the California State Board of Education’s approved Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum goes far beyond that by directing students to pray to Aztec deities. This portion of the Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum is not only offensive, but blatantly unconstitutional.”

The activities include an Aztec prayer that “invokes five spiritual beings worshiped by practitioners of the Aztec religion,” the suit says. In another activity, students take part in an “Ashe” chant or affirmation by repeating the name “Ashe,” which is the “divine force as recognized in the Yoruba religion.”

“Children are directed to repeat this name, along with other words, in response to various questions, so as to form the phrase ‘Ashe, Ashe, Ashe, Still I rise, Ashe,’” the suit says.

The curriculum says the activities can “bring the class together, build unity around ethnic studies principles and values” and “reinvigorate the class following a lesson that may be emotionally taxing.”

“Use of the prayers and chant violate the Establishment Clauses of both the U.S. and California Constitutions,” the suit says.

1 COMMENT

  1. Sue their asses off! God Almighty be with you in Jesus’name! When they ban the reading and use of the holy Bible,and saying of Christian prayers in public schools,how dare they pull this sly trick by cunningly making students pray to fallen, rogue and condemned demons?!
    Do more than take them to an earthly court y’all! Drag them before the highest Court in the universe where the El-Shaddai sits as Judge! The One who put down the laws that NO oblations,worship,prayers of any kind be made to another other than HIM who made the Heavens and the Earth,and rightly deserves ALL worship. Drag their asses there backed with your strong arguments,let me see how they will make their defense!

    Nonsense!

    The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof; the world and all its inhabitants! Only He deserves praise and worship! None of those foolish Aztec idiots can lay claim to the creation of the universe or anything in it! They themselves are created beings and ought to worship Jehovah-Jireh,the LORD God Almighty,but being the proud fools they are, they rebelled along with Lucifer,and now,they seek to draw all humanity into their rebellion so we will share in their eternal doom! But it shall not stand neither shall it come to pass,for they that know their God shall be strong and they shall do exploits!

    Sue those fools complicit with the fallen fools of creation,and deliver the souls of those dear American students from their wicked and evil machinations!

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