If you've ever met Christians, or been around them for any extended period of time, you've heard them use phrases like "I'll pray for you," or "have a blessed day." Well, one special education assistant in Maine recently said these words to a colleague at school, and she got reprimanded by her employer. When she learned her coworker was having a hard time adjusting to his job life, she said she'd pray for him. They did, after all, attend the same church.

Months later, after they'd had a falling out, the colleague filed a complaint against the special ed teacher, and she was suddenly in fear for her job. According to FoxNews:

The district sent Ms. Richardson a “coaching memorandum” – warning her that such language is not acceptable – “even if that other person attends the same church as you.”

She was not even allowed to use the word “blessing.”

 “In the context of the ‘separation of church and state,’ this case prohibits public school-sponsored religious expression,” the memo read. “Therefore, in the future, it is imperative that you do not use phrases that integrate public and private belief systems when in the public schools.”

She was also specifically ordered not to make any “reference to your spiritual or religious beliefs.”

I guess the school district believes the Constitution stops working in public buildings. The district warned her that if she didn't comply, she'd possibly lose her job. “I was shocked that my employer punished me for privately telling a coworker, ‘I will pray for you,’” she said. “I’m afraid I will lose my job if someone hears me privately discussing my faith with a coworker.”

The Augusta school district needs to learn a thing or two about civics. “The law is clear: employers cannot discriminate against employees who privately discuss their faith while at work,” said her attorney Timothy Woodcock. Maybe the school district should let the special ed teacher instruct them on the basics of free speech.

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