Community | August 10, 2009 | 6 comments

School administrators face jail for endorsing religion in public schools

source: http://www.examiner.com/x-10853-Portland-Humanist-Examiner~y2009m8d10-School-administrators-...

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In Florida, Pace High School Principal Frank Lay and Athletic Director Robert Freeman are both facing criminal contempt charges and possible jail time for endorsing the Christian religion in a public school. Earlier this year, Lay asked the school athletic director, Robert Freeman, to "bless the food" at a luncheon at Pace High for school personnel and booster club members instrumental in helping procure a new field-house. Both men were in violation of an explicit court order to refrain from prayer at school sponsored functions.

Pace High School, located in Florida's Santa Rosa County School District, is a school of more than 1,800 students. Pace is known by many as "the Baptist Academy." For years, teachers and staff delivered prayers, mandated students complete religious-oriented assignments and encouraged involvement in religious clubs. Teachers offered Bible readings or biblical interpretations and talked about the churches they attended. Christian prayers during sporting events and other activities were common. All this was encouraged and endorsed by Principal Frank Lay.
  1. groups:
    Community,   Humanism,   Opinion
  2. tags:
    Education,  Christianity,  Prayer in School
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6 comments // School administrators face jail for endorsing religion in public schools

  • spacemikey
  • unclecharlie
    • 0
      unclecharlie  

    • Holy Mother of Mary, Batman! The founding fathers were a mixture of Christians and Deists. What bothers me, what really makes me cringe, is that they were not necessarily endorsing Christianity- they were endorsing THEIR version of Christianity- which evangelicals seem to do a lot. Pace High School is a PUBLIC high school- therefore, they should not be endorsing their religion. If they want their kids to learn religion and godly behavior, ship 'em off to a private, parochial Catholic school!! I would have been offended by indoctrination at my high school, because it would have been Protestant in its belief. I as a catholic have been made to feel like a pariah because I wanted to join a "non denominational christian fellowship." Once I saw how they frowned upon me, I was outta there. We have Catholic Schools, we have Baptist schools- THAT is where the kiddies should learn their faith, NOT public school! (But a simple prayer is no big deal- neither is "In God We Trust" on our $$ But to endorse a particular faith over others- NO- this is why we have freedom of religion- no "state religion", like they have over in the UK. One reason why we rebelled........

    • 2 years ago
  • unimatrix0
  • unclecharlie
  • Nephwrack
  • unimatrix0
    • 0
      unimatrix0  

    • Wow! That Principal is a total a-hole. He has been running this public school like a religious school for a long time.

      What is wrong with people in Florida and Texas? Why do they stand for this religious propaganda in their public schools?

    • 2 years ago
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