Posted on 11/29/2004 8:46:54 PM PST by quantim
ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — A high school principal apologized Monday for reading a poem called "The New School Prayer" over the school's intercom, which brought complaints from some parents who said it violated the principle of separation of church and state. Tommy Craft said he wanted not to promote religion but to provoke thought and discussion among students about the changing political climate in school when he read the poem the Tuesday before the Thanksgiving break.
"I apologized to them today in another statement," Craft said. "I said that there was no attempt to individualize or to bring ridicule on any particular person with the poem."
The poem, which has circulated on the Internet since at least 1992, is written in the rhyming style of the children's prayer that begins "Now I lay me down to sleep." It refers to prayer not being allowed in school, although students can "dress like freaks, and pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks" or "elect a pregnant Senior Queen."
The poem mentions the ability to get condoms and birth control, as well as study "witchcraft, vampires and totem poles."
"But the Ten Commandments are not allowed, no word of God must reach this crowd," the poem says.
Some parents have complained to both Craft and the Clarke County School Superintendent Lewis Holloway.
"Basically, I found the poem offensive, but even if I didn't, I still would believe it crossed the line between church and state," said Ginger Smith, whose daughter is a junior at Cedar Shoals High School.
Holloway said the district had received "several calls" from people who were upset about the poem. He would not discuss any action taken against Craft.
Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.
If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.
Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.
For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.
We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's "inappropriate" to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such "judgments" do not belong.
We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.
It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
Amen
It was done best on an episode of the Simpsons.
Homer's Christian neighbor became principal of the school and lost all control of the place. Violence and mayhem ensued, with the kids basically tearing the school apart. The parents and the community didn't notice anything wrong. But in a moment of frustration the new principal said, over the intercom, something like, "children, please, try to control yourselves, in the name of GOD..."
... everyone stopped... a collective holding of breaths... absolute amazement at THAT WORD being spoken on SCHOOL PROPERTY... cops cars arrive... screaming sirens... the principal is hauled away in handcuffs...
Even the leftist writers of the Simpsons were willing to acknowledge (at least once) the obvious: that there is a government-sponsored jihad against Christianity in America.
The hate christ crowd needs to be given their wish. It's time to defund the left... get the federal government OUT of public education. The states, churches, and parents do a better job, even if they are completely absent.
Bush and the republicans want mental profile testing of all students of school age. I want mental profile testing of all government employees and officials ELECTED or EMPLOYED... and that includes them ALL.
I long to see, who are REALLY sick, and hiding behind public office or employ.
the enemies within.
"Basically, I found the poem offensive, but even if I didn't, I still would believe it crossed the line between church and state," said Ginger Smith, whose daughter is a junior at Cedar Shoals High School."
I guess Ginger is bucking for a Supreme Court appointment, with crystalline logic such as that.
Sending this to my sister in Athens, GA. Her oldest son is in high school, but I'm not sure which one. Her youngest is at Cedar Schoals Elementary. Maybe she'll know more information.
Basically, I found the poem offensive, but even if I didn't, I still would believe it crossed the line between church and state," said Ginger Smith, whose daughter is a junior at Cedar Shoals High School."
---
Sigh.
Lemme go out on a limb and guess that Ginger Smith, product of our failed education system:
a) Hasnt read the Bill of Rights,
b) Has no sense of humor nor proportions,
c) Thinks the 'spirit of the season' is to give her kid a contraceptive patch for X-mas,
d) Thinks she can impose her views on others but others should just STFU and take it,
e) All of the above.
I'm guessing (E).
or f) Thinks "Free Exercise" is a complimentary session at the local health club.
Basically, I find Ginger offensive. I wonder what my options are in protecting my rights against being thus offended.
I still would believe it crossed the line between church and state," said Ginger Smith,
Please tell me which religion is being promoted? Sounds like secular humanism to me and that is lawful to be taught in school. Christianity is a no-no. Kids might find out what the word "moral" means and we certainly can't let that happen.
"God has no place within these walls"
I do think it was rather STUPID for a principal to do this - unless they really wanted to be fired or make a lawsuit out of it.
I'm appalled that a student is not allowed to recite a prayer in school. After all, a religious student should have as much right to express their viewpoint as any other student.
But being an employee of the the school and knowing the current legal climate, the principal was showing colossal ignorance of the law to do this or *wanted* to turn it into a legal challenge - one or the other.
Sad part is ... I think he could have held his ground and actually done some good. I'd be willing to bet the local public educational system threatened his future and caved him in. But, I'd also be willing to bet that a private educational system would have embraced him for taking just such a stance.
What caved in on him was the local anti-God, commie-hugging teacher's union. Bet you a dead goldfish.
To all those people who incorrectly believe the Constitution mandated a separation between church and state and to all those people who confuse prayer to God with religion.
This interesting prayer was given in Kansas at the opening session of their Senate. When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard:
"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know your word says "Woe to those who call evil good", but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.
We confess that.
We have ridiculed the absolute truth of your word and call it Pluralism.
We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn and called it choice.
We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem.
We have abused power and called it politics.
We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition.
We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and call it enlightenment.
Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen."
This is really funny! These people complaining about the poetry reading are the same who support flag-burning and pornography as "free speech"!
Their complaint is that the speech they don't like is "offensive." That means that they don't like it. They are not at all interested in what may be "offensive" to other people.
Liberals are the world-class, prize-winning hypocrites.
Constitutional note: The principal at the school was not assisting Congress in establishing a church, so according to strict interpretation, original intent, and plain reading of the Bill of Rights, he was not out of line.
Our local school here in NJ tells the kids that Thanksgiving was started by the Pilgrims to thank the Indians for their help. Should I complain? After all, as a lover of truth, I find historical distortions of history to be “offensive” to me.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.