No more pre-game prayer at Blount County Schools football games
Student or volunteer-led prayer will no longer be allowed over the loud-speakers before high school football games in the Blount County School District starting this Friday. The decision comes following a complaint filed by the Freedom from Religion Foundation against a Blount County school over saying a pre-game prayer over the intercom before high school football games claiming the prayers are inappropriate and and unconstitutional. “The complaint alleges that because we are doing that over the PA system, that it is inappropriate,” Blount County Schools Superintendent Rodney Green Green told ABC33/40. “That is something that we have had to go back and examine, and we have decided to go back and make a change in that practice.” According to CBS 42, Green said the District discussed the complaint with attorneys and they will now pause for a moment of silence before each home game rather than saying a prayer. In God We Trust Blount County Schools also made headlines recently when they took action to become the first Alabama school to bring God back to the school district by displaying “In God We Trust” at the various schools within the county. In August, Green told AL.com a policy could be drafted within the next month. “In God We Trust” has been the official motto of the United States since 1956 and back in March, the State Legislature passed HB228: The National Motto “In God We Trust” Act, which allows the national motto to be placed on government agencies and offices, in and on public buildings, including public school classrooms across the state.
Complaint leads Ala. school district to ban student-led prayer at football games
An Alabama school district has banned student-led prayer on the public address system before football games following a recent complaint. The Opelika-Auburn News reports that attorneys for Lee County Schools replied Sept. 11 to an Aug. 31 letter of complaint from the Freedom From Religion Foundation which said a parent complained about student-led prayer at Smiths Station High School’s season-opening game. The school district says it will bring all schools in accordance with current federal law that prohibits school-sponsored prayer in public schools. Schools superintendent James McCoy said in a statement that he tried to find a way for students to continue leading prayer, but ultimately found no recourse. A group of Smiths Station students has invited community members to join in a silent one-minute prayer before each home game. Republished with permission from the Associated Press.
Atheist group pushes Ala. school to ban baccalaureate ceremonies, prayer at graduations
For decades, the country has been divided on whether or not to allow prayer at public school events. Now the issue has moved centerstage in Opp, Ala. Last month, Opp High School included an optional baccalaureate service —a Christianity-based interdenominational celebration that honors a graduating senior class — in its graduation festivities where school principal, Aaron Hightower, led seniors in prayer and delivered a speech referencing God. In response, the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), which touts itself as the nation’s largest educational atheist organization working to keep religion and government separate, sent a a letter to Opp City Schools asking them to “to cease endorsing religion in its future graduation activities” and to ensure that no prayers are scheduled for future high school graduation ceremonies. “Opp City Schools has a legal duty to remain neutral toward religion. It makes no difference how many students want religious speeches or wouldn’t be offended by them at their graduation,” wrote FFRF Staff Attorney Sam Grover. “A graduation should be a celebration for all students, not an exercise in alienating nonreligious students with a Christian message.” FFRF claims “by scheduling graduation prayers and a baccalaureate, the school district has failed to comply with constitutional law.” FFRF advises that Opp City Schools avoid similar legal breaches of the First Amendment going forward. “High school graduations should honor the students, not a religion,” added FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor.
