Mesa charter school sued, accused of teaching religious doctrine

A national organization filed suit Wednesday against an Arizona charter school with ties to a member of the state Board of Education, accusing it of using state funds to illegally teach religious doctrine.

The federal court lawsuit claims that Heritage Academy—which has three campuses in Maricopa County, including one in Mesa—is violating the First Amendment, state constitutional provisions and Arizona laws through the instruction provided to students as well as required reading.

Attorney Richard Katskee, legal director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said that specifically includes teachings of founder, president and teacher Earl Taylor Jr. that the Ten Commandments, including those that mandate the worship of God, must be obeyed to attain happiness.

The school, which has grades 7 through 12, also teaches that socialism violates God's laws, he said.

Read more: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/arizona/article_7824de10-7936-11e6-824c-ff2e8d570ede.html