Establishment Violation?
“ Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers and our country. Amen”.
You would be hard-pressed to find an American that wouldn’t classify this passage as a prayer. It is references the almighty, it is asking for his blessing, but, perhaps most importantly, it is non-denominational. There are no references to overtly Judeo-Christian tenets.
Then why can’t it be optional for students to recite in a public school?
In 1962, the Supreme Court, by a 6-1 decision, answered that question in the landmark case Engel v. Vitale. The court decided that government-directed prayer in public schools was an unconstitutional violation of the Establishment Clause (as applied to the states by the fourteenth amendment).
Schools must stay neutral on the issue of religion.
This begs the question, when the pledge of allegiance comes on the morning announcements, and the words “under God” are recited to every classroom at our public high school, is this too a violation?
Does SHS violate the establishment clause on a daily basis? What should be done?
posted by CitizenPatriot at 7:21:00 AM
9 Comments:
The pledge is a prayer. You want God references? Get your damn kid in a private school....or homeschool...keep religion out
8:15 PM
I 100% agree...here is the federal government (who by the way is currently associating itself (the republican party that is...however my words are completely unpartisan) with being "hands-off" as seen through the recent health-care proposals) who throughout histroy (now ignoring the current government) has prided itself on its secularity and its belief in pure neutrality and democracy becoming submissive to the pledge of allegiance and allowing G-d to be stated is proposterous. To be honest, I feel that the government and our nation is becoming quite egomaniacle by saying "You know what, you can't say Jesus or Moses (an Elbaum fav. reference) or even Virgin Mary or preach the Hare Krishna (yeah I said it Hare Krishna what up), but we'll allow you to say that our nation is under the supervision of the highest being, the all omnicient...but please remember that we are secular..." I think it is not only unfair, but ludicrous. As much as I love saying the pledge in the morning and get a feeling that when I say "under G-d" I feel protected via religion and other means, I feel that it is wrong and offensive, let alone an embarassment to our Constitution. I say lets make it a fair deal between the people and the government and lets just leave G-d of it. In other words, its an A-B conversation and G-d can just C his way out...of the pledge that is.
12:59 AM
elbaum...there are your comments...1:01 in the morning and look what I do for you...I better get props come monday...hahaha hope you had a good weekend...or at least better than Stevenson's offense mwahaha.
1:01 AM
Meh. We are given the option to participate in the recital, so it doesn't bother me quite as much as other pressing (and horrendous) issues, like, say, George Bush.
What's the new name of his biography? "I do tears"?
More like "I need to conspicuously attempt to humanize myself in front of the American people so as to not be recorded as the worst president. ever."
I'm sorry, is this off topic?
Anywho, I don't believe in God. Today I said it out loud for the first time; I wanted to see how it felt. Kind of liberating!
I miss AP Gov. :(
12:34 AM
I would agree that the pledge is in violation of the Establishment Clause and that it also goes against the Supreme Court ruling; however, some students, myself included, take pride in saying the pledge each morning. Prohibiting the pledge would then be in violation of freedom of speech and the free exercise clause. I feel that Stevenson does a fine job allowing the students to choose whether they will stand and recite the pledge. Unless there are students who are very opposed to this tradition, I feel it is ok as is.
5:02 PM
This decision is more of a fence issue due to the fact that it is meant to be optional.
I do disagree with the idea of having certain things dictated over the loudspeakers of a public institution but to create an uproar i do not think that is so. This topic is a distraction as to how well Elbaums students did on the Constitution test because the supreme court has already decided that they couldn't say that on the announcements.
And for those who argue that the Pledge of Alligence is a prayer, then fine question the infrastructure of our government. Think of what you would rather say in its place and get back to me. I'll be here all week.
8:41 PM
and just so you know I am in 7th period right now....and I'm pumped for govt. and I post on your blog...you should be honored...during school...admit no one has done that before.
1:32 PM
Religion is not necesserily being refrenced in the pledge. There is no notable quote referring to any religion in any part of the pledge. Stating "under god" is just a way of saying that you answer to a higher moral authority and not sayign anything about religion.
10:58 PM
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10:36 AM
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