My Brother’s Teacher Told Him to ‘Draw What Brings You Most Joy’: Since His Answer Was the Cross, It Wasn’t Allowed

The tall middle school boy sits back in shock, the words of his art teacher ringing in his ears. A slight frown creases his face as the teacher dismisses his dream of drawing a cross. He remembers the prompt — “draw what brings you most joy” — and asks the teacher if she is sure.

She repeats her command: “No religious imagery is allowed.” The rest of the class looks on in stony silence. And so the boy sees his peers’ secular joy promoted while his religious joy is prohibited.

That boy was my brother. My name is Samuel Proctor, and I am fed up with the myth of neutrality that hides the growing state-sponsored secularism.

I heard about my brother’s art class incident on Jan. 29, 2026. At the time, I was driving to Des Moines, Iowa, to testify before the House of Representatives education subcommittee. My mother called