Gate City - South football game... (Kingsport: private school, law, legal)

[rccrain]

Apparently there was a student led prayer in memory of the South player that died during a game the week prior. There was also a memorial for the victims of 9-11.

Where on earth does the ACLU get off by threatening the school? And who would be offended by such touching gesture?


ACLU questions Gate City High about prayer before football game - Kingsport Times-News Online

[jabogitlu]

I imagine no one would object to a memorial service; in fact the article references such. But common mass prayer at any school function can be a very delicate subject from a legal standpoint.

Obviously no one is offended by the memorial service. But religion in schools is illegal. I'm sure the ACLU was just making sure that the school was aware of that fact. That's what the ACLU exists to do.

Trust me, I'm sure if it were a mass, student-led service denouncing religion and promoting atheism, that everyone would be all up in arms about it.

[jchometeam]

Mass common prayer at public schools can be tricky, and of course everyone has its own perspective on it according to their own viewpoint more than actual case law. I could quote case law stating that it is constitutional, someone else would reply with a quote saying its not, and I could write back with how that law has been overturned, etc. BUT we dont need to get in a legal discussion on this forum.

Regardless, this is why my child will be going to either a private school or a public school who decides not to be bullied by the ACLU.

Yes, if a student led organization denounced religion and endorsed atheism, there would be people up in arms. But it would be legal, just as this was.

[rccrain]

And I hear that. It's the circumstances under which the student led prayer occurred. If a Hindu player had passed in the previous week, I would have no problem with his friends honoring him with a Hindu gesture.

But under the circumstances, threatening the school is a bit out of taste.

[mbmouse]

I agree that in this case, a memorial statement of a fellow schools classmate showed a lot of class and respect for other humans. (the boy that died was from another school entirely.) The ACLU should have kept their nose out of this one.

[Beretta]

I keep the ACLU types in my prayers because they need them. Bless their hearts. Of course, they do have to justify their existence don't they?

I think that a student led prayer is more than appropriate for many reasons. People don't have to attend and if it is healing to these kids then so be it.