Posted on 09/25/2006 9:48:53 PM PDT by Coleus
ORLANDO, FL - Wednesday, September 27, is the official day for the 17th annual "See You At The Pole" prayer rallies. The rallies are student-initiated, student-led events where students gather before school to pray for their classmates, teachers, schools, families, communities, states and nations. Each year approximately three million students from all fifty states and more than twenty countries gathered around school flagpoles to pray. Students in the United States have often met with resistance from school officials who are not educated about constitutional rights. Liberty Counsel has defended the right of students to participate in SYATP events in the past and is available to assist students who encounter problems with school officials regarding SYATP events.
This week is also the ninth annual "Scriptures in Schools Week" (SIS), a week when students bring their Bibles to share and to encourage Bible reading during free time at school throughout the year.
School officials across the country should be aware that students have a constitutional right to participate in SYATP and SIS on public school campuses and may not discourage these events. The United States Department of Education's "Guidelines on Religious Expression in Public Schools" recognize that students have the right to participate in SYATP as a protected act of religious expression.
Mathew Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel, commented, "It is beyond question that public school students have a First Amendment right to participate in 'See You At The Pole'. The Supreme Court has unequivocally stated that students have a First Amendment right to pray before, during or after the school day." Staver concluded, "School officials have an affirmative duty to educate themselves regarding the First Amendment rights of students, rather than acting out of bigotry, religious bias or ignorance of the law. If students encounter resistance from school officials about 'See You At The Pole', they should contact Liberty Counsel immediately."
The ACLU is deeply saddened.
"You're 3 days late George, you know what that means?!"
Dad, I converted, I'm Latvian Orthodox now, they celebrate later!"
I remember these, and I was in high school just under 5 years ago.
you see, old people? There's plenty of kids out there with their heads screwed on straight! =P
that's the Festivus pole, a different episode than George's conversion.
but funny too. I like the pole reference! =)
BTTT
bttt
Indoctrination (or "education") concerning other "religions" while forbidding any mention of Christianity or prayers thereof is devious in its nature. Some of our nation's youth could stand to learn a few "Thou Shalt Not's."
Courts driving religion out of public life
Snip: Majorities of Republicans (89 percent), Democrats (73 percent) and independents (69 percent) think the courts have gone too far in taking religion out of public life.
Overall, most Americans disagree with several Supreme Court rulings on the separation of church and state. For example, an overwhelming 87 percent favor allowing public schools to set aside time for a moment of silence, and 82 percent favor allowing voluntary prayer. Another 82 percent favor allowing public schools to have a prayer at graduation ceremonies, and 83 percent think nativity scenes should be allowed on public property.
Not only do three-quarters of Americans (76 percent) think posting the Ten Commandments on government property should be legal, but also two-thirds (66 percent) say it is a good idea to post the commandments in public schools.
If we really want students to pray, we should give more pop quizes.
:)
There currently are no laws whatsoever banning or restricting prayer in schools. Courts decided only that teachers and school officials cannot lead students in prayer, which makes perfect sense. I mean, how would you feel if your children's Scientologist teachers led their students in prayer to L. Ron Hubbard?
Unless we're going to legally establish a national religion, it's best not having government employees doing religious education, right? If public school teachers had the right to teach their students religion, you would have no control over what sort of religion is being taught, and there's an awful lot of crazies out there..
But I don't think anyone is trying to stop children from exercizing their freedom of religion. It's government workers who waive this right as terms of their employment.
I'd be a little creeped out, seeing as I dont have children. =P
but seriously, I totally agree with your statements. Religion and (public) education are separate but not exclusive. Same with religion and politics; separate but not exclusive.
That's what the liberals cannot acknowledge.
bump
Wednesday, September 27, is the official day for the 17th annual "See You At The Pole" prayer rallies. The rallies are student-initiated, student-led events where students gather before school to pray for their classmates, teachers, schools, families, communities, states and nations. Each year approximately three million students from all fifty states and more than twenty countries gathered around school flagpoles to pray.
Snip: Majorities of Republicans (89 percent), Democrats (73 percent) and independents (69 percent) think the courts have gone too far in taking religion out of public life.
Overall, most Americans disagree with several Supreme Court rulings on the separation of church and state. For example, an overwhelming 87 percent favor allowing public schools to set aside time for a moment of silence, and 82 percent favor allowing voluntary prayer. Another 82 percent favor allowing public schools to have a prayer at graduation ceremonies, and 83 percent think nativity scenes should be allowed on public property.
Not only do three-quarters of Americans (76 percent) think posting the Ten Commandments on government property should be legal, but also two-thirds (66 percent) say it is a good idea to post the commandments in public schools.
bump!
Thanks for the ping!
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.