<p>Summary: school board decided in March that the name of Jesus can no longer be mentioned in student-led meetings. Community outraged. Student says prayer anyway at graduation.</p>
<p>What was the back story behind the school board’s decision? As in, was religion being brought into school-endorsed events to the point of being bothersome to members of religious minorities? (Seems like this speech at graduation would qualify as such.)</p>
<p>Very offensive to non-Christians. When I was in middle school (then called junior high!) back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, the Lord’s Prayer was recited every day. As a Jew, I often mumbled along, not wanting to draw attention to myself. Although of course I could have kept my mouth shut, that can be very difficult for a 12-year-old.</p>
<p>The act was apparently in protest of the Pickens County School District’s decision to no longer include prayer at graduation ceremonies, Christian News reported. Officials said the decision was made after the district was barraged with complaints by atheist groups.</p>
<p>This was not a required recitation. This was a valedictorian talking about what was important to him in his speech. I would not be offended by a Jewish student reciting a Jewish prayer, or any other person of any other faith reciting something that was important to “who they are”. I object to a minority limiting the speech of others in any respect. If something offends any one person out there, we ought not be allowed to say it? Oh for heavens’ sake.</p>
<p>I would fully support a speech where the valedictorian spoke about the importance of faith, prayer, etc in his life. I think that’s much different than reciting a prayer, especially given the circumstances.</p>
<p>Cromette, the issue isn’t whether it’s “offensive.” It has to do with whether the person is acting as a representative of the state. It’s the difference between me putting a creche on my front lawn and the town hall putting a creche on its front lawn. It’s the difference between me as a private citizen praying publicly and the school principal in a public school praying publicly to open a school board meeting.</p>
<p>It strikes me – as a non-lawyer – that this is blurry, however, because the student is still not acting as a representative of the state the way, say, the public school principal would be. Lawyers?</p>
<p>And why is it that in most parts of the country, it’s accepted that if you want religion in your school, start or send your child to a religious school (Catholic school, Jewish school, etc.) – and yet there are these hold-out parts of the country where they just haven’t figured this out yet? It’s mind-boggling.</p>
<p>Amen to free speech. But are any of the grads dissappointed with a religious protest taking center stage on the event that caps 4 years of high school?</p>
<p>What an idiot. Maybe a classic example of a valedictorian who could get an “A”, but couldn’t actually write anything of his own worth saying to a crowd. Save it for church, not a non-secular event where some people do not share your religious fervor and beliefs.</p>
<p>ABSOLUTELY AGREE - “I will never understand…if you want religion in school, go to a religious school, not a secular public school. It seems so simple.”</p>
<p>And it’s not original thought and sort of lazy!</p>
<p>Many students who feel uncomfortable about prayers in public schools or other publicly funded venues are afraid to speak out for fear that they’ll get ostracized. I’m a Jew living in the bible belt and whenever I hear an elected official start leading a prayer, I get somewhat angry. However I’d never dare say anything about it, especially in the middle of the prayer.</p>
<p>South Carolina is in the Bible Belt. Our county in Georgia said a prayer before every school board meeting up until this spring when an atheist sued the county. Now they have a “Minute of Reflection”. Same thing at the beginning of the school day now it’s a “Moment of Reflection”. However believe or not they still say the Pledge of Allegiance! I’m sure some day some one will sue to have that stopped too.</p>
<p>BTW Our school Valedictorian mentioned God during her speech.</p>
<p>But I’m not sure this thread is following the rules. I don’t think we are supposed to post about religion…</p>
<p>Our high school has a separate (voluntary) baccalaureate service the night before graduation for those who feel the need to pray about it. It is put on by local clergy, and I suspect it is mostly if not completely Christian, although none of my kids has ever bothered to attend. Other religions are very much in the minority around here.</p>
I’m sure some day some one will sue to have that stopped too.</p>