Link: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/09/27/god-bless-greeting-lands-louisiana-school-in-hot-water-with-aclu/
Video Link: http://video.foxnews.com/v/4514609655001
Date: 9/27/15
Summary: A school in Louisiana is under attack by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), after the school allowed for students to place prayer boxes around the school and the principle ended an online letter with "may god bless you all". The ACLU believes that the actions by the high school violates the first amendment because it is showing that the school has an established religion. The school is a public school and therefore has no right to doctrine religion. Some people like Louisiana State Rep. Mike Johnson support the school. Johnson believes that the ACLU is just on another "seek and destroy mission". Both Johnson and Freedom guard, a nonprofit public interest law firm, offer legal advise to the school.
Questions: Did the school truly violate the 1st amendment? Do you believe there will be legal repercussions for the school and if so what will they be? Why is religion still showing up in schools across the country?
Technically, I believe that the school did not violate the 1st amendment for several reasons. First, the 1st Amendment states that everyone has the freedom to practice their religion. Second, all the school did was place prayer boxes around school. Even though there are christian symbols on them, that doesn't mean that every student actively participated in using the prayer boxes. They were not forced to use them. Lastly, the general rule for religion in public schools is that religion cannot be taught in the schools. The school doesn't break that rule, because teachers are not teaching their students the christian religion in this situation. I also do not think that the principle violated the amendment either, he is not teaching his students to believe in god, he is simply practicing his religion and nicely ending a letter. It's no different than our national money having "In God We Trust" printed on it. I do not think there will be huge repercussions for the school, I just think that the school will have to take the boxes down, but nothing more than that. Religion is still showing up in schools around the country because citizens of our country have the freedom to exercise what ever religion they please; it is inevitable.
ReplyDeleteGood post & great response from Casis - heavy on the free exercise, light on the establishment clause. Waster school being neutral? If not, then it doesn't pass the Lemon test. I love the cartoon - ACLU is quite the constitution purist- "congress shall establish..."
ReplyDeleteI don't think that the school violated for 1st amendment. The prayer boxes placed around the school actually enforced the free exercise clause of the 1st amendment, while the ACLU's attempt would technically be violating the free exercise clause. As for the principal, I also don't believe he was violating the 1st amendment. He also has his right to practice his religion, as it is not as though he is forcing his religion upon his students. However, he may need to be more tentative in writing such phrases on public letters, as he may face even more backlash due to his role as an educator. The school, however, should not have to face legal repercussions as it should not have to turn into a legal issue. Religion is still showing up in schools across the country because of the important role it plays in peoples lives. The fact that there are religious schools shows that in some ways, it is very difficult to separate religion and education.
ReplyDeleteThe school was not teaching or having prayers at footballs games etc. so I believe that the school didn't violate the first amendment. I think the prayer boxes almost cross the line, but if the school takes them down, it will not escalate. The letter seemed harmless because the principle seemed to just be ending the letter as he/she always would. All in all, I dislike that there is religion involved in the public school system but these were just minor offences that shouldn't be taken seriously.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Cassis in that no students were forced to use the prayer boxes, and a simply God bless you all at the end of a letter hardly signifies a christian indoctrination program. Therefore, the school is not violating the first amendment. However, I would say that subtle conformity to Christianity within this school and likely many other public schools is vast, and likely here to stay. It would be extremely difficult to change the culture of de facto religion in public schools, yes even the pledge of allegiance contains the phrase "under God." Just like there is a prevailing culture of liberalism, conservatism or gun ownership at different schools, cutting off the infiltration of religious culture in schools would be close to impossible. Ultimately, the best watchdogs like the ACLU can do is prevent overt, de jure religious policies that transgress on the rights of other students.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Cassis in that no students were forced to use the prayer boxes, and a simply God bless you all at the end of a letter hardly signifies a christian indoctrination program. Therefore, the school is not violating the first amendment. However, I would say that subtle conformity to Christianity within this school and likely many other public schools is vast, and likely here to stay. It would be extremely difficult to change the culture of de facto religion in public schools, yes even the pledge of allegiance contains the phrase "under God." Just like there is a prevailing culture of liberalism, conservatism or gun ownership at different schools, cutting off the infiltration of religious culture in schools would be close to impossible. Ultimately, the best watchdogs like the ACLU can do is prevent overt, de jure religious policies that transgress on the rights of other students.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe that the school truly violated the first amendment. The prayer boxes were a form of expression; they were voluntary and no one was obligated to do it. The prayer boxes are no different from the student nomination boxes we have at Burlingame. They are both used as a form of expression and are in no way obligatory. Also, when the principal ended his email with "may god bless you all", that was a bit more sketchy- for a lack of better word. The principal's situation was much like the Santa Fe case where the girl ended her speech with "god bless you all." But the principal's email was a voluntary situation where no one was obligated to read it. Because both cases ended with the situation not being obligatory for anyone, I do not think there will be any legal repercussions. The reason schools and religion are not clearly separated in public school is because our government itself is not truly secular. But the extent to which religion is separated from education depends on where the school is. For example, a school such as Burlingame has little to no connection with religion but a school is Texas has a strong connection to religion.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the school did not violate the First Amendment thus the ACLU has nothing to hold the school against. Our First Amendment states that we are allowed to freedom of religion. Since the prayer boxes was optional and simply placed around the school, there is no enforcement of religion onto to students, making it all a freedom of choice. On the account having religious items around the school, it should be allowed as it is an expression of religion which is part of our freedom, as the practicing of the religion is not obligational. Furthermore, the principal was in no violation as it was simply an ending and a farewell statement. There were no implications of teaching or forcing a belief onto those in which the message was relayed upon. It was nothing more than a statement, similar to the way you say "bless you" after someone sneezes.
ReplyDeleteNo I do not think the school violated the 1st amendment. If anything, they were following it by practicing freedom of religion. I think if the majority of the people at the school support the seemingly harmless actions of the school then whatever the act they participating in is perfectly fine. In this case, no one was physically harmed and no one besides the ACLU was complaining. Unfortunately, with the type of society we live in today, there will be some sort of legal repercussions for the school. This could potentially be fines, stricter guidelines, a new principal, and more.But as for the last question, why is religion still showing up in schools, Religion has always been a huge part of the American culture whether we like to believe it or not. This country was built by people who solely came here for religious freedom from their oppressing countries. As much as time has changed, we still do have a certain reliance on religion. As much as we try to take it out of our lives and out of the culture of the US, it is still going to be there. While as a country we may be doing just that, trying to drop it cold turkey, there are still plenty of people who are strongly religious and that is perfectly ok. Religion is still a "thing" in society it has been so integrated into our society since the nascency of this country and it is not just simply going to disappear.
ReplyDeleteNone of the students were forced to use the prayer boxes and the sign off included the blessing of "all" students, not just one religion. In addition, people weren't required to read the principal's email, like Weilin said, Therefore, I do not believe that the school violated the first amendment. I agree with Nidhi that it is within their freedom of religion to practice what they want as long as they aren't forcing people to participate and separating those who don't. Then again, it would be up to the state to decide whether or not they decide that it is up to public school standards, since they are supposed to be given jurisdiction over education.
ReplyDeleteI believe that this is a violation of the first amendment because public schools are not supposed to take part in religion practices. In my opinion, this is similar to the case where student initiated prayer is not allowed before football games. Although not all students don't have to participate in the "prayer boxes" they don't equally represent all religions. There could be legal repercussions depending on how far they want to take it in court. I believe that religion comes up in schools again and again because although the government states that there is no religion in politics our phrase is "God Bless America". Religion is ingrained in what America stands for and it will be hard to make this issue go away.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe that the school was violating the 1st amendment clause, because everyone has the right to practice whatever religion they want. If students did not want to participate they didn't have to put anything into the box. I will agree that the principle writing "may God bless you all" in an e-mail is maybe crossing a line, but "God Bless America" is repeated all the time and no one seems to have a problem with that. America was built on religion and since the majority of the population is Christian it seems as though separating religion from daily life is hard.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe the school should be punished. Everyone has the right to practice their religion. The school is not limiting any religion and benefiting the other, the school is simply utilizing their right to practice their own religion. Contrary to my beliefs, i think the school will get in trouble because they have promoted a certain religion.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe the school should be punished. Everyone has the right to practice their religion. The school is not limiting any religion and benefiting the other, the school is simply utilizing their right to practice their own religion. Contrary to my beliefs, i think the school will get in trouble because they have promoted a certain religion.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe the school should be punished. Everyone has the right to practice their religion. The school is not limiting any religion and benefiting the other, the school is simply utilizing their right to practice their own religion. Contrary to my beliefs, i think the school will get in trouble because they have promoted a certain religion.
ReplyDeleteI feel that the school is not in violation of the 1st amendment. It did not partner with or signal that they had prayer going on. Who wanted to partake in it did so and who didn't want to take part didn't. I feel that the school will be prosecuted in violation of the 1st amendment but i don't agree with it.
ReplyDeleteReligious freedom in this case, is a very interesting topic. The federal government is quick to condemn an educator for finishing a letter with the words "may god bless you" yet they seem to forget that US money has the inscription "In god we trust" on the back. There is no denying that Religion plays a role in the lives of many Americans. Ideally, there would be true separation of Religion and government, but it seems sort of hypocritical to question the school.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe the principal violated the first amendment. The statement did not impose anything on the students and it did not specify a certain religion. I think the ACLU is getting out of hand on this issue because it sounds like they are gonna go after anyone who says the word "God" at a school.
ReplyDelete