Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) in Florida has instructed West Orange High School to permanently stop a student-led segment on its morning announcements known as “Witchy Wednesday.” The decision came after the district received a formal complaint from Liberty Counsel, a conservative Christian legal organization, which argued the broadcast constituted religious instruction.
Key Takeaways
- West Orange High School has discontinued its student-run "Witchy Wednesday" morning announcement segment.
- The action followed a complaint from Liberty Counsel, which characterized the segment as promoting witchcraft.
- The school district cited Supreme Court precedents, defining the broadcast as government speech subject to school regulation.
- OCPS confirmed the segment was created by a single student and not affiliated with any official group.
Details of the Student Broadcast
The controversy centers on a short, student-produced segment that was part of the school's morning announcement videos, which are typically uploaded to YouTube. While the specific video from September 10 has since been removed, reports described its content in detail.
Hosted by a student, the “Witchy Wednesday” segment reportedly explored spiritual themes. It discussed how different phases of the moon could symbolize various chapters in a person's life. The broadcast also mentioned the practice of burning incense as a method to “clear your surrounding energy.”
Additionally, the segment described a ritual involving writing one's “intuition” on a piece of paper and then burning it during a full moon. According to an OCPS spokesperson, the announcements were compiled by a single student and were not associated with any formal club or organization at the school.
Liberty Counsel's Legal Challenge
Following the broadcast, the Orlando-based Liberty Counsel sent a letter to the school district on September 18. The organization argued that the segment amounted to “religious instruction” on witchcraft and magic, which they claimed could violate the rights of other students.
The letter specifically referenced the discussions about spells, moon phases, and rituals. Liberty Counsel asserted that Christian students should not be compelled to “lend their imprimatur” to such content presented through official school channels. The group also raised the issue of parental opt-out rights, citing recent Supreme Court rulings on the matter.
Who is Liberty Counsel?
Founded in 1989, Liberty Counsel is a nonprofit legal organization that identifies as a Christian ministry. It focuses on litigation related to religious freedom, family values, and the sanctity of life. The organization has been involved in numerous high-profile cases, often advocating for what it views as Christian privileges and parental rights. The Southern Poverty Law Center has designated Liberty Counsel as an anti-LGBTQ+ hate group, a label the organization strongly disputes.
School District's Official Response
Orange County Public Schools responded formally to the complaint. In a letter dated September 23, OCPS General Counsel John Palmerini confirmed that the district had reviewed the matter and instructed West Orange High School to cease the practice immediately.
“No further segments of this nature will take place,” Palmerini wrote, providing a decisive end to the weekly broadcast.
The district’s decision was not based on the religious content itself but on established legal principles governing school-sponsored speech. Palmerini explained that because the segment was delivered over the school's official communication system under faculty supervision, it is considered government speech.
Citing Supreme Court Precedent
The legal justification for halting the segment rests on two key Supreme Court cases:
- Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe (2000): In this case, the Court ruled that student-led prayer delivered over a school’s public address system was impermissible government speech, not private speech. Palmerini drew a direct parallel, stating, “the ‘Witchy Wednesday’ segment would be considered government speech.”
- Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier (1988): This ruling affirmed that schools have the authority to regulate the content of school-sponsored publications, such as newspapers and, by extension, morning announcements, as long as their actions are reasonably related to legitimate pedagogical concerns.
Palmerini emphasized that the school had not created an open forum for indiscriminate student expression in its morning announcements. Instead, the broadcasts are a “supervised learning experience,” giving officials the right to regulate content in any reasonable manner.
“Clearly, OCPS has the right to control school-sponsored publications made as part of its curriculum with regard to speech and other expressive activities,” he stated in the letter.
Government Speech vs. Private Speech
The distinction between government and private speech is critical in school settings. While students retain First Amendment rights, schools can regulate speech that occurs as part of the curriculum or through official channels. This is to avoid the appearance of the school endorsing a particular viewpoint, especially a religious one, which would violate the Establishment Clause.
Handling of the Complaint and Public Reaction
In his response, Palmerini also expressed disappointment with how Liberty Counsel publicized the issue. He noted that the organization had issued a press release with the headline “Florida High School Promotes Witchcraft” and posted its complaint letter online, leading to media coverage before the district could fully address the matter internally.
“The manner in which this matter was handled was surprising,” Palmerini wrote, suggesting a more direct communication could have resolved the issue. He added that both OCPS and Liberty Counsel share “the same goal to ensure that all students have their First Amendment free exercise rights respected.”
The issue also sparked conversation on social media. Some parents and community members expressed alarm that such topics were being presented in a public school setting. One commenter wrote, “Scripture is clear that witchcraft and occult practices are detestable to the Lord.” Another expressed surprise that this was happening in Florida, attributing it to “moonbat lunacy.”
Regarding the parental opt-out question raised by Liberty Counsel, which referenced the 2025 Supreme Court decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor, Palmerini stated the issue was moot. Since the segment was permanently canceled, there was no longer any content for parents to opt their children out of.
The school district has reiterated that it considers the matter closed and that the student-led segment will not return.
