ACLU Puts Local District on Notice (Knox,PA)

KDKA ^ | May 20, 2005

[bulldozer]

May 20, 2005 1:04 pm US/Eastern
Knox (KDKA) The American Civil Liberties Union has put a local school district on notice for saying prayers at some school events.

After receiving a complaint from someone in the Keystone School District in Knox, the ACLU sent a letter warning the district to stop prayers at board meetings and graduation -- saying it's a violation of the constitution.

"When public schools reserve time at a graduation ceremony for prayers, they violate the Constitution by putting the power, prestige and endorsement of the state behind whatever prayer is offered... students and invited guests who subscribe to different beliefs... feel like outcasts or second-class citizens." -- Witold Walczak, Pittsburgh ACLU (Excerpt from the letter obtained by KDKA)

School Board President John Slagle disagrees. "I'm totally against the removal of prayers from public schools."

Slagle says people in the rural Clarion County area want prayer.

"I understand where they're coming from with it, but on the other hand, what's being done here should reflect what a majority of the people want to have." -- John Slagle, School Board President

Knox resident Randy Irwin agrees. "Religion's important around here." Irwin adds, "They out to just let 'em go. Let 'em make up their own mind and stay out of it."

With graduation just about a week away, Slagle says he's looking for a way around the ACLU action.

In the meantime, the ACLU says it's also monitoring two other school districts over this issue -- but it won't say which ones.

[ken21]

i wish a conservative knowlegeable about the law would write a concise history of the aclu's activities.

[TXBubba]

At least these folks seem to have a backbone about it. They aren't going, "oh no, let's stop". Time for people to stand up for themselves.

[Luna]

In the meantime, the ACLU says it's also monitoring two other school districts over this issue -- but it won't say which ones.

This is scary stuff. You can't pray in school, but child pornography is okay. Grrr. When will the earth open up and swallow this communist organization?

[Tailgunner Joe]

The ACLU: A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

The American Civil Liberties Union

Supports		Opposes
Legalized Child Pornography		Legalized Optional School Prayer
Legalized Drugs		Sobriety Checkpoints
Tax Exemptions for Satanists		Tax Exemptions for Churches
Legalized Prostitution		Religious Displays in Public
Abortion on Demand		Medical Safety Reporting
Mandatory Sex Education		Parental Consent Laws
Ideological Tests for Court Appointees		School Vouchers and Home Schooling
Automatic Entitled Probation		Government Ethics Committees
Public Demonstrations by Nazis and Communists		Prison Terms for Criminal Offenses
Legalized Polygamy		Public Demonstrations for Direct Action by Pro-lifers
Busing		Teaching "Monogamous Heterosexual Intercourse within Marriage" in Public Schools

[ken21]

gracias, senor.

i'm reading the post now.

[smokinleroy]

students and invited guests who subscribe to different beliefs...

There aren't a whole lot of those in that part of the state. I sure hope the ACLU doesn't hear about our city council opening their sessions with prayer...uh...er...oops, I just let the cat out of the bag.

[ALPAPilot]

With graduation just about a week away, Slagle says he's looking for a way around the ACLU action.

Privatize the school system and pray to your heart's content.

[Integrityrocks]

The days of Satan lurking in sheep's clothing are gone. Satan doesn't have to hide any longer. The liberal masses have embraced him and they glorify him.

God is watching.

[sirchtruth]

students and invited guests who subscribe to different beliefs... feel like outcasts or second-class citizens."

TFB!! If you feel "outcast" or "second class" don't show up at the graduation or where there might be prayer! Let the ACLU and anyone else who opposes FREESPEECH-and that most certainly includes PRAYER, go pound sand!

Enough of this BS! ENOUGH!!!

[RoseofTexas]

How long are we suppose to bend over for this evil institution?! When will people have ENOUGH of this communist organization...WHEN??!!!! When will we take a stand? WHEN?? WHY AREN'T PEOPLE OUTRAGED! This rat run commie base is single handily taking all our loved privileges way from us. They keep winning case after case, removing every freedom we hold dear. The ACLU and the liberal rat demonic judges are slowly destroying the fabric that made America special! If folk don't take a stand against them God will remove his hand from the USA!

[SkyDancer]

Just remember that the ACLU was founded by American communists in 1920 ... no, I'm not "there a commie under my bed" person either ....

[mlc9852]

The courts will do what the ACLU wants. They always do. The only way to beat them is to just keep doing what they say we can't do. Let them keep suing and see if they want to start arresting people for praying at, for example, a football game. I believe anyone has the right to pray if they want to. We used to have prayer before games at my children's school until the SC ruling. It was a tradition and none of us complained. Yet the SC was able to take that away from us. That to me is a major freedom - the freedom to pray. If a student or teacher volunteers to lead a prayer before a game and no one at the game is offended and in fact wants it, how can they say that's illegal? Until Christians stand up and just refuse to live in fear, it will only get worse. The ACLU and courts are crushing what America has always been. They are slowly destroying America.

[infidel29]

This is another reason for the (R) senators not to cave to the (D) senators over judicial nominations. More originalists on the benches will start to curb their effectiveness.

[judgeandjury]

"When public schools reserve time at a graduation ceremony for prayers, they violate the Constitution by putting the power, prestige and endorsement of the state behind whatever prayer is offered... students and invited guests who subscribe to different beliefs... feel like outcasts or second-class citizens." -- Witold Walczak, Pittsburgh ACLU (Excerpt from the letter obtained by KDKA)

There's nothing in my copy of the U.S. Constitution regarding "putting the power, prestige and endorsement of the state behind whatever prayer is offered".

[Tribune7]

ping

[QueenBee3]

students and invited guests who subscribe to different beliefs... feel like outcasts or second-class citizens.

People who "feel" like second class citizens or outcasts because of pray, really need mental help. I'm not joking here. To be so seduced by your random feelings that you can't stand a 30 second public prayer, really says a lot. These people should be consulting physciatrists, not the ACLU.

[newsworthy]

I hope the school officials resist; perhaps Sekulow could step in.