A federal appeals court in San Francisco upheld a decision by a Southern California school district to order a math teacher to remove classroom banners that included the phrases "In God We Trust" and "God Shed His Grace on Thee."

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed a civil rights lawsuit filed by high school math teacher Bradley Johnson against the Poway Unified School District in San Diego County.

In 2007, school district officials ordered Johnson to take down from his classroom walls two large banners, each about 7 feet wide and 2 feet tall, that contained religious references.

The appeals court said the school district's action didn't violate Johnson's free speech rights because he was in the