From The American Center for Law and Justice:
One of the most significant - and highly contested - rights in our country today
is the right to pray.
Unfortunately, attempts to squelch public
expressions of faith have spread from the courtrooms of our nation to its
classrooms.
As concerned parents, grandparents, school teachers, and
church leaders, the most important step you can take right now is to know your
student's rights before he or she sets foot on a public school
campus.
In fact, what many do not realize is this: Prayer is a
protected form of speech that cannot be banned by school officials when it is
being offered in a manner such as See You At The
PoleTM.
A school official who refuses
to allow students the right to pray on their campus is engaging in
censorship.
In recognition of the upcoming nationwide See
You at the Pole event this year on September 26, I have pulled together a
critical and informative online bulletin regarding students'
rights ... and the public schools' responsibility to acknowledge those
rights.
Please feel free to share this bulletin with local school
administrators - including principals, board members, and teachers - to advise
them on the current state of the law.
It is imperative that
local school officials be informed in order to avoid violating the First
Amendment rights of students and others.
See You At The
Pole and the National Day of Prayer are student
events - not organized or conducted by school administrators or
officials.
Students of faith across the nation annually gather with
like-minded peers around the flagpole at their respective schools before classes
begin and pray for their schools, teachers, administrators, and
country.
It is their First Amendment guaranteed religious right to
participate in such an activity ... and it is a bold expression of their faith
that should be highly encouraged.
Learn more about student free speech rights on public school
campuses - particularly the right to engage in religious expression at
See You At The Pole events on September 26.
And please keep in
mind: This bulletin is for informational purposes only and is not intended as
legal advice. If you are in need of legal counsel regarding a specific
situation, you should contact an attorney or the ACLJ for assistance. |
