Tag Archives: Public School

Idaho Republicans Pass Resolution On Bible Use in School

Republicans in Idaho have passed a resolution that would allow the Bible to be used in schools as a reference material.

David Johnston of the Republican Party told KBOI-TV Boise the Bible would be used in multiple subjects just like any textbook.

“I don’t see it as a forcing upon anybody or interfering with it,” said Johnston. “Whether it be geography, history, literature or frankly just the study of the world religions; if there is a school district that thinks having the Bible as part of the curriculum would be useful, this resolution is basically saying, ‘we support the idea of allowing them to have that tool in their tool box.'”

The resolution notes that the Supreme Court has ruled the Bible can be used for historical purposes in schools.

“[T]he use of the Bible for literary and historic value is consistent with the 1st amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1963 case of Abington School District v. Schempp declared that the Bible is worth studying for its literary qualities and its influence on history,” it states. “[I]n 1980, the Supreme Court ruling of Stone v. Braham stated that ‘the Bible can constitutionally be used in an appropriate study of history, civilization, ethics, comparative religion, or the like.’”

No schools would be required to use the Bible, but it would be available as a resource.

Party leaders hope that one of their legislators will turn the resolution into a bill for next year’s legislative session.

School In Prayer Lawsuit Drops Free Period To End Suit

A Colorado Springs high school that had been at the subject of a lawsuit over banning Christian students from meeting during their “free period” is sidestepping the issues of the suit by eliminating the free period for students.

Now former student of Pine Creek High School, Chase Windebank had been meeting with other Christian students during “seminar”, the school’s version of study hall.  The students would meet to pray, sing worship songs and encourage each other in a room away from students who did not have faith.

The school stepped in during Windebank’s senior year and said they would no longer be allowed to meet during the seminar time, because the school considered it to be “instructional time”.  The school said they were not violating Windebank’s civil rights by redefining the period to bar the Christian students from meeting.

Windebank filed suit with the help of the Alliance Defending Freedom because other students were still able to express themselves during the free period while the Christians were being blocked.

“I’m actually quite excited that I was able to take this stand and be able to make a victory for free speech in public schools,” he said. “Not just for me because I filed this lawsuit. For those after me as well, being able to express what they believe.”

Windebank says the school has agreed to allow prayer and gathering of students during lunch.

The school claims the suit’s dismissal has nothing to do with a deal and that those who pursued the suit are grandstanding.

“Pine Creek High School has never had, and does not have, a policy in place which restricts students’ rights to associate at lunch, and by extension to meet with others and discuss faith, pray, or talk about the news of the day from a Christian perspective,” he wrote. “As such, no nonexistent policy was revised to achieve the suit’s abandonment.”

Officers Step In When Deputy Dies Before Son’s Graduation

When a Johnson County Arkansas deputy was shot and killed pursuing a burglary suspect the day before his son’s graduation, no one knew the way the brotherhood of officers would take care of his son.

Hours after the shooting, Dakota Smith walked across the stage at Clarksville High School to pick up his diploma.  When his name was announced, a dozen officers who had rushed to the school stood up, snapped to attention and saluted the young man in place of his late father.

“There was also a standing ovation for him and a round of applause. The moment they said his name until the moment he sat so you…definitely felt a moment there of support and love for that family,” said youth minister Chad Race.

The graduating class also showed their support for Dakota by wearing black ribbons on their graduation gowns.

“There was a lot of outpouring emotion… he received a lot of applause and rightfully so,” School Superintendent David Hopkins told KARK News.  “It took a lot of courage for him and his family to be here tonight and I know that’s where their dad would want them to be.”

Court Rules School Violated Rights Of Student Preacher

A federal judge delivered a major victory for the religious freedom of students when he ordered a Washington school to erase the suspension records of a student who preached at school.

Cascade High School senior Michael Leal had been suspended by the school three times last October saying that his handing out of Gospel literature and preaching violated school policy.  The school told him that if he continued his actions he would be expelled for causing a “disruption” on campus.

The Pacific Justice Institute stepped in after the third suspension to defend Leal’s rights.  Now, a federal judge says the school was wrong.

“Plaintiff’s suspensions on October 2, 9, and 31, 2014, are vacated. Defendant shall remove the Notices of Disciplinary Action or Short Term Suspension dated October 2, 9, and 31, 2014, from his record,” US District Court Judge Thomas Zilly wrote in his decision and awarded Leal $1 as nominal damage.

The judge also declared the school’s policy against non-student written handouts unconstitutional.

“Defendant is hereby enjoined from enforcing the requirement that materials be ‘written and/or produced by students.’ That language is severed from the Policy and Procedure of the Everett Public Schools,” the court ordered.

The school now has a “free speech zone” where students can express views.

“Everyone needs to hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. It’s absolutely necessary,” Leal said.  He is scheduled to graduate on June 10th.

Nevada Teacher Bans Student Using John 3:16 In Assignment

A Nevada public charter school is under the microscope after a teacher refused to allow a student to reference John 3:16 in a project asking the students to describe themselves using a series of slides.

Mackenzie Frasier, a sixth-grader at Somerset Academy, is the daughter of a pastor and said she was proud of her Christian faith and its importance in her life.  She didn’t tell her parents about the incident until April when she discussed a leadership class assignment and said she was told not to use Christian references.

Her father, Pastor Tim Fraiser, wrote to the school asking for clarification on what his daughter had been told by her teacher.

“Can you please explain if this is true? Perhaps, she misunderstood you? Since I am certain you understand that this clearly infringes on my daughters/your students right to freedom of speech, I want to make sure we understand your instructions,” he wrote on April 29.

The school responded with a defense of blocking Christian expression from their school.

“When Mackenzie created the project with the expectation she would present the Biblical saying to the class, the matter became one of having a captive audience that would be subject to her religious beliefs. Had the assignment been designed to simply hand in for a grade, this would not have been an issue. Therefore, considering the circumstances of the assignment, Miss Jardine appropriately followed school law expectations by asking Mackenzie to choose an alternate quote for the presentation,” Assistant Principal Jenyan Martinez wrote.

The Liberty Institute is now involved in the situation and demanding the school allow Mackenzie’s Constitutional rights and to allow resubmission of the project with her Bible verse included in the presentation.

The charter school management company that runs Somerset Academy said they are investigating the situation.

“We consider the civil liberties of our students to be of utmost importance,” said Colin Bringhurst of Academica Nevada. “As such, we strive to comply in every way with the directives set forth by the U.S. Department of Education with regard to religious expression in public schools.”

Mackenzie told the Last Vegas Review-Journal she’s standing up for her rights to be a good example to her younger brothers.

Student Takes Podium During Medical Emergency And Leads Prayer

An Alabama high school student rushed to the podium at graduation as a medical emergency was taking place and lead the entire crowd in a prayer.

Christian Crawford, the senior class president, said that he felt led to pray.

“Everybody, can I have your attention real quick?” he said. “We don’t know what’s going on, but we will pray. We know that prayer is power, and that God is able. Let’s pray.”

“Father God, we thank you for this day, Lord. We pray right now that whatever is going on, you will fix it, God,” he prayed. “We pray that you will heal it, God. We pray that you will redeem it, God. We pray that you will deliver it, God, because we know that you are a God who knows how to make a way.”

“And in the name of Jesus, we declare and decree in the name of Jesus that whatever is going on shall be fixed, because you are a God who is a fixer,” Crawford continued. “You are a God who is a healer. Jehovah God, Jehovah-jireh, Jehovah-nissi, Jehovah-shiloh. Fix it, Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

The prayer was met with cheers and applause by the audience.

The video of the prayer has gone viral with over 274,000 views.

“People tell me all the time, ‘Oh, you’re famous now. You’re famous now.’ And I’m like, ‘No, I’m not famous. God is famous,’” Crawford stated. “If God’s famous, being exalted because of what I prayed about, then that means I’m doing what I was supposed to do.”

“Everything I do is to God be the glory. If God is not getting the glory out of this, then all of this is in vain, and I don’t want it to be in vain,” he said.

FFRF Get “Bible Man” Banned From Schools

Presentations in a Tennessee school district from a character called “Bible Man” have been banned thanks to a complaint from a virulent anti-religion organization.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) made one of their usual claims that a parent they would not identify contacted them about the voluntary assemblies put on by Horace Turner as “Bible Man.”  The assemblies, which have been going on for 40 years, are not required of any student.

“It is deeply troubling that the district allows these assemblies to take place. It is well settled that public schools may not advance or promote religion,” the letter, which pertained to a presentation at Coalmont Elementary School, stated. “Allowing anyone access to public school students to proselytize, and including the events in the school’s calendar, is illegal district endorsement of the speaker’s religious message, in this case a Christian message.”

The letter when on to say that the children need to be protected from “predators” like Turner.

The school wanted to make it clear that while the “Bible Man” presentations are banned, Turner himself is not banned from being at the schools or working with children.

“I believe the perception was that we’re trying to get rid of him, and that was not the perception we wanted to present,” Dr. Willie Childers stated. “We are trying to make sure that the procedures that we do are legal and constitutional for every citizen.”

The school is looking into starting after-school clubs where students can come and participate in events hosted by Turner.

Teachers Barred Form Giving Free Bibles After AHA Threaten Suit

An Oklahoma public school has stopped giving free Bibles to students who request them after an anti-religion group threatened a lawsuit.

The virulent anti-religion group American Humanist Association (AHA) sent a complaint to Duncan Public Schools over the distribution of the Bibles.  The legal counsel for the schools replied to the humanist group that the Bible distribution would be stopped because of their complaint.

“All teachers and administrators in the district are being advised that they are not permitted to distribute Bibles or other religious materials to students in class or during class time,” wrote Scott W. Stone.

“Teachers and administrators in the district are being advised that they should not attempt to persuade students to take Bibles or other religious materials during class time.”

This is the second time the school has been threatened by the AHA.  A third-grade teacher drew the ire of the group when she offered Gideon bibles to her students if they wanted to take one.

American Humanist Association Drops “Under God” Pledge Lawsuit

New Jersey schools will continue to say “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance after an anti-Christian organization reportedly has dropped their lawsuit.

The American Humanist Association (AHA) sued a New Jersey school district last year to get “under God” removed from the pledge.  The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, who had been helping a student who was fighting the AHA, announced Monday the American Humanist Association had been beaten.

“The American Humanist Association’s challenge turned out to be all bark and no bite,” said Diana Verm, legal counsel with the Becket Fund, in a statement shared with The Christian Post.  “The court was right that the pledge doesn’t exclude anyone, but dissenters have the right to sit it out. That’s how we’ve always dealt with disagreements in our society.”

The AHA did not expect that a high school student would stand up to fight them.  Samantha Jones and her family filed responses to the lawsuit and testified during a November motion.

“I’ve been reciting the pledge since preschool, and to me the phrase ‘one nation under God’ sums up the history and values that have made our country great,” Jones said last year.

“I think it’s empowering to know that, no matter what happens, I have some rights the government can never take away. No student should be silenced just because some people disagree with timeless American values.”

New York Mayor Allows Churches To Continue To Meet In Schools

The mayor of New York said that he is not going to enforce the Supreme Court’s decision that the New York School System could ban Christian organizations from holding meetings in school buildings.

The Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal of a lower court decision that said the school board could prohibit churches under the Establishment Clause.  It was the third time the Court has sided with the city against churches.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said he will allow churches to continue to meet in public schools despite the ruling.

“The administration remains committed to ensuring that religious organizations are able to use space in city schools on the same terms provided to other groups,” said mayoral spokesman Wiley Norvell. “Now that litigation has concluded, the city will develop rules of the road that respect the rights of both religious groups and nonparticipants.”

“While we review and revise the rules, groups currently permitted to use schools for worship will continue to be able to worship on school premises under DOE guidelines,” he said.

The Alliance Defending Freedom, who represented the church in their case, said that while they welcome the Mayor’s decision, the rules need to be changed to allow equal access to all groups.