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The school my children attend has always been a small town oriented school, close knit, and since the town is religious, so was the school ceremonies.

But at the start of this school season, the tradition of meeting every morning around the flag pole seems to have taken on a whole new meaning with the hiring of a new high school principle.

My son, and about 250 other students had rallied around the flag pole for prayer before actual time for school to begin. They were having a prayer at the time for the victims of hurricane Katrina. As well as the normal everyday things that they say prayer for.

Then the new principle approached the crowd and told the group to break it up, that he would not support such activities on school campus as it might offend someone.

I must say, a lot of things that goes on in school today offends me as a parent, but I don't have the choice to opt my child out of the offensive program.

Who gets to decide where that line is drawn.

Why does the seperation clause of the "wall between Church and State" seem to have a door in it that only liberals have a key to, and that only swings one way;

and that way being in allowing the state to decide what is justified as "freedom of religion", and what is decided as "forced state religion".

Contact an attorney. That principal can't do that. The courts have made it clear that students may gather and pray around the flagpole.

A letter from an attorney should do the trick. If not, further steps can be taken. The new principal at your school simply hasn't gotten the word.

Kids can pray at the flag. It's their right to do so, and every case has been won in court. The principal will back down.

Now, non-students and outsiders should not be allowed on campus for this activity. That's a danger we can all recognize. Even those who pray have been known to be abusers of young people.

"Then the new principle approached the crowd and told the group to break it up, that he would not support such activities on school campus as it might offend someone."

Contact Pacific Justice on this one, right away. That is exactly the kinds of cases they handle, usually with just a nice, firm letter that corrects any misunderstanding that may exist on the part of the school staff or school board.