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Teacher prays before school begins, all hell breaks loose
WND News Center ^ | March 24, 2024 | Bob Unruh

Posted on 03/26/2024 6:41:42 AM PDT by george76

Officials insist it's only allowed 'when students are not present'..

A school district in Texas is being taken to court because of its decision to ban an employee from praying.

It is the American Center for Law and Justice that has gone to federal court in Houston on behalf of Staci Barber, an employee of the Katy Independent School District.

Defendants are the district and Bryan Rounds, principal of Cardiff junior high.

The federal court filing explains that the district "violated, and continues to violate, her rights to religious expression by prohibiting her from praying when students might be present, even if that prayer occurs off the clock."

...

The ACLJ explained this case involves a teacher who wanted to engage in prayer outside the school building before the school day begins..

...

"This year she had gathered with two friends and fellow teachers to pray at the school flagpole. The school principal called these teachers into his office. He told them that they could not pray at the pole or in the presence of students because if they did so, students may see and join in. He told them that it was against the law for them to pray publicly where students could see them and then pointed them to a school policy that prohibited teachers from praying in the presence of students."

However, the ACLJ explained the facts, that the Constitution "protects the rights of religious employees to pray, even publicly; they do not somehow lose their constitutional rights just by being government employees.

(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: 1stamendment; arth; education; firstamendment; prayer; praying; texas

1 posted on 03/26/2024 6:41:42 AM PDT by george76
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To: george76

Liberals believe the 1st Amendment forbids freedom of religion.


2 posted on 03/26/2024 6:44:30 AM PDT by BykrBayb (Lung cancer free since 11/9/07. Colon cancer free since 7/7/15. PTL ~ Þ)
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To: george76

Mark Davis does it on his radio show. Now if he were the WH press secretary I’d eat it up.


3 posted on 03/26/2024 6:44:48 AM PDT by DIRTYSECRET
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To: george76

“(Principal) told them that they could not pray at the pole or in the presence of students because if they did so, students may see and join in.”

And that is one thing that no school wants, a praying student.

Where do they get these fools to run schools?


4 posted on 03/26/2024 6:47:29 AM PDT by odawg
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To: george76
From the story:

"This year she had gathered with two friends and fellow teachers to pray at the school flagpole. The school principal called these teachers into his office.

He told them that they could not pray at the pole or in the presence of students because if they did so, students may see and join in.

He told them that it was against the law for them to pray publicly where students could see them and then pointed them to a school policy that prohibited teachers from praying in the presence of students."

A lot of taxpayer money is wasted on "officials" and "experts with expertise" who are possessed with antagonism for, and imagine that their "policies" supersede, our Constitution and founding principals of Original Intent, Enumeration of Powers, and LIMITED GOVERNMENT.

5 posted on 03/26/2024 6:48:38 AM PDT by linMcHlp
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To: george76
"The school principal....told them that they could not pray at the pole or in the presence of students because....students may see and join in."

But pornography in the libraray is OK.
What a jack-wagon.

6 posted on 03/26/2024 7:03:07 AM PDT by Psalm 73 ("You'll never hear surf music again" - J. Hendrix)
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To: george76

That’s the beauty of the sign of the cross.


7 posted on 03/26/2024 7:13:09 AM PDT by Ge0ffrey
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To: Psalm 73

Had they put down prayer mats and faced east, they would have been celebrated. Some religions are more equal than others.

EC


8 posted on 03/26/2024 7:15:56 AM PDT by Ex-Con777
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To: george76

[[Officials insist it’s only allowed ‘when students are not present]]

Nope, not true! Sc has been all over this many times-

[[and then pointed them to a school policy that prohibited teachers from praying in the presence of students.”]]

Unconstitutional school policy!


9 posted on 03/26/2024 7:20:04 AM PDT by Bob434
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To: george76

“C. Overview of Governing Constitutional Principles

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution both prevents the government from establishing religion and protects religious exercise and religious expression from unwarranted government interference and discrimination. A public school and its officials may not prescribe prayers to be recited by students or by school authorities. However, nothing in the First Amendment converts the public schools into religion-free zones, or requires students, teachers, or other school officials to leave their private religious expression behind at the schoolhouse door. The line between government-sponsored and privately initiated religious expression is vital to a proper understanding of what the Religion and Free Speech Clauses of the First Amendment prohibit and protect. Although a government may not promote or favor religion or coerce the consciences of students, schools also may not discriminate against private religious expression by students, teachers, or other employees. Schools must also maintain neutrality among faiths rather than preferring one or more religions over others”

https://www.mbm-law.net/insights/prayer-and-religious-expression-in-public-school/


10 posted on 03/26/2024 7:25:36 AM PDT by Bob434
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To: george76; .45 Long Colt; Apple Pan Dowdy; BDParrish; Big Red Badger; BlueDragon; boatbums; ...
He told them that they could not pray at the pole or in the presence of students because if they did so, students may see and join in. He told them that it was against the law for them to pray publicly where students could see them and then pointed them to a school policy that prohibited teachers from praying in the presence of students."

To forbid any expressions of dependence upon God (any), and or gratitude to Him by any gov. officials, effectively examples/teaches/inculcates atheism, as it conveys that the government in no way is dependent upon the supernatural, nor appreciative to deity.

Parents who abstain from the same, even at the dinner table, effectively do that same. But which is consistent with the principle expressed in,

...we have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other. (From a letter Adams wrote on 11 October 1798 to the officers of the First Brigade, Third Division, of the Massachusetts Militia) on October 11, 1798)

More, by the grace of God.

And the religion Adams had in mind was not Islam.

Yet to believe that an exceedingly vast, systematically ordered universe, exquisitely finely tuned for life with profound intricate complexity and corporeal diversity, can be all a result of purely natural processes requires much faith, more so than that the universe logically testifies to design, requiring a First Cause (at the least), that of a powerful being of supreme intelligence being behind the existence of energy and organization of matter.

11 posted on 03/26/2024 7:53:27 AM PDT by daniel1212 (Turn 2 the Lord Jesus who saves damned+destitute sinners on His acct, believe, b baptized+follow HIM)
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To: george76; 6amgelsmama; 100American; AAABEST; aberaussie; AbolishCSEU; AccountantMom; Aggie Mama; ...

ANOTHER REASON TO HOMESCHOOL

This ping list is for the other articles of interest to homeschoolers about education and public school. This can occasionally be a fairly high volume list. Articles pinged to the Another Reason to Homeschool List will be given the keyword of ARTH. (If I remember. If I forget, please feel free to add it yourself)

The main Homeschool Ping List handles the homeschool-specific articles. I hold both the Homeschool Ping List and the Another Reason to Homeschool Ping list. Please freepmail me to let me know if you would like to be added to or removed from either list, or both.

And yet they teach kids in depth about islam to the point of having them recite the Shahada in class.

12 posted on 03/26/2024 8:07:14 AM PDT by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus…)
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To: linMcHlp
He told them that it was against the law for them to pray publicly where students could see them ....

Total BS.

What a liar.

13 posted on 03/26/2024 8:09:09 AM PDT by metmom (He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus…)
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To: Bob434
Although a government may not promote or favor religion or coerce the consciences of students, schools also may not discriminate against private religious expression by students, teachers, or other employees.

Key words of disputation would be "promote" and "private." Since the people involved were not flying a LGBTQAI+++ flag in support of a feelings-based (born that way) "religion," but expressing faith (born again that way) then the powers-that-be would argue that this was a promotion of forbidden religion, versus expressing atheism by excluding any dependence upon and gratitude to a higher power than the government (did that) itself. Which is effectively the official state religion, and expressed in excluding the origin of the universe as being due to any supernatural power.

Note that since the IRS granted religious tax-exempt status to a "resolutely non-theistic" fraternal organization (the Satanic Temple, basically a preforming arts and political org.), "which does not even endorse supernatural (or 'supernormal') explanations...". then not only must every US state gov. allow them religious rights and protections, but it opens the door for all sorts of secular org. claiming religious. Which means that neither the IRS or SCOTUS ruled consistent with what the Founders had in mind a religion.

In 2016 the Satanic Temple asked Scottsdale, Arizona to open a city council meeting with a prayer that ended with "Hail Satan.” - https://theconversation.com/what-the-satanic-temple-is-and-why-its-opening-a-debate-about-religion-131283

14 posted on 03/26/2024 8:10:03 AM PDT by daniel1212 (Turn 2 the Lord Jesus who saves damned+destitute sinners on His acct, believe, b baptized+follow HIM)
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To: george76

Are there any schools that allow the middle eastern death cult members to interrupt lessons, kneel on their prayer rugs, and pray?

I’ll bet there are.


15 posted on 03/26/2024 9:01:51 AM PDT by I want the USA back (Delusionary people should not be given power over normal people.)
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To: george76

I would argue that that school’s policy against open prayer is acceptable if it includes prohibition against ANY LBGT discussions in school as well. If the issue is “keeping one’s ‘beliefs’ to themself” that must include all LBGT beliefs as well.


16 posted on 03/26/2024 9:06:43 AM PDT by Wuli (ena)
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To: george76

Where is the “hell breaking loose?”

Just boilerplate harassment of Christians. Happens daily.
Click bait.


17 posted on 03/26/2024 10:17:38 AM PDT by subterfuge (I'm a pure-blood!)
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To: daniel1212
He told them that they could not pray at the pole or in the presence of students because if they did so, students may see and join in. He told them that it was against the law for them to pray publicly where students could see them and then pointed them to a school policy that prohibited teachers from praying in the presence of students."

The government takes this VERY seriously. I was almost fired a few times and placed on some list over twenty-five years ago just telling a patient about the Bible.

Got to go to re education camp where they told me about tolerance, religious differences and racism for two weeks. I'm now reformed and ...and of course not working for the government anymore.

18 posted on 03/26/2024 3:58:06 PM PDT by Karliner (Heb 4:12 Rom 8:28 Rev 3, "...This is the end of the beginning." Churchill)
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To: george76
He told them that they could not pray at the pole or in the presence of students because if they did so, students may see and join in.

And that would be... bad?

Someone help me out here.

I thought the reason that we had to get rid of prayer in school was because kids were being forced to pray. (That never happened, you can not force someone to pray. You may, by way of threat force them to mouth words but praying is a level beyond that).

Now teachers can not pray on their own time on school grounds because the students may, of their own accord, walk over and join in.

What am I missing?

19 posted on 03/26/2024 4:59:27 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear ( Roses are red, Violets are blue, I love being on the government watch list, along with all of you.)
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