Posted on 11/30/2004 10:43:59 AM PST by rwa265
ATHENS, Ga. - 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.
Does no one understand the Constitution?
Very few do.
…said Ginger Smith…
Porn star name.
I'm a moment of silence person myself, but I don't think this is a particularly appropriate thing for the principal to read over the intercom. I never heard the principal read poetry of any kind over the intercom when I was in school.
Exactly. They prove the author's point in stark terms.
Fast-breaking news: Satans minions shriek upon proclamation of the Almighty.
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
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
Someday it will dawn on Americans that the best way to deal with many complaints is to simply ignore them.
Don't write them down. Don't "promise action". Don't agree to investigate. Don't call back when the complaint is registered on the complaints hotline. Don't address it. Ignore it. And when it is bellowed louder, ignore it.
The only recourse is the courts.
Make sure you elect judges that will dismiss such cases out of hand, or assess penalties for their frivolity.
Just because you have a complaint does not mean that you have the right to be heard, or the right to be taken seriously. You have the right to complain. On a streetcorner. Where no-one cares.
At present, we are too sensitive to criticism. A parent COMPLAINED! Oh my goodness, we must DO something!!!
Actually, if we ever want sanity to return to America, what we must learn to do is to IGNORE PEOPLE when they make ridiculous complaints. Don't like something? Get over it.
What kind of kids are these people raising?
What exactly is "school prayer" anyway? I don't have a problem if students wish to pray in the school. But I don't think it is appropriate for the school to initiate or lead the students in prayer, whether over the intercom or in an assembly.
That said. This poem was not a prayer. It was a statement.
Or as a colleague of mine would say, "Get a grip."
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 or orange or green,
That's no offense, it's the 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 & dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues & 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 & birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires & 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.
More PC. To praise God is considered... well offensive. Showing a gay film on the other hand is a sign of how enlightened and tolerant our schools have become. Our actions are out of whack with our values.
Nonetheless, it was a brave statement to make, and a completely valid one (not sure if school was the right venue...) Who knows what will happen to this principle, but he succeeded in getting the truth out by what he did.
Good point.
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