Student broadcaster suspended for 'God bless' institution

World Net Daily ^ | Wednesday, January 21, 2004 | staff of worldnetdaily.com

[mware]

Sign-off before holiday deemed inappropriate for public institution

A high school student dismissed from his school broadcast program for signing off with "God bless" is rallying community members to his side.

James Lord, a senior at Dupo High School in Belleville, Ill., was suspended for one month from his daily news broadcast on the school's closed circuit television after signing off his Dec. 17 broadcast, the Belleville News-Democrat reported.

Lord told his student audience: "Have a safe and happy holiday, and God bless."

School Principal Jonathan Heerboth has said Lord's comment was inappropriate for public school, the paper reported.

Lord said he plans to appeal the suspension because he claims it violated his First Amendment rights. Geoffrey Surtees, a lawyer with the Virginia-based American Center for Law and Justice who is advising Lord, said he would wait to see the outcome of the board meeting before making a comment.

Ahead of his address to the school board, Lord distributed more than 400 flyers to encourage local people to attend the meeting. The fliers said the school board was to meet last night, but board members say it is scheduled Jan. 27.

Will Lord say "God bless" again when he returns to the show Feb. 1?

"I can't guarantee I won't say it again," the student said, according to the News-Democrat.

School board member Mike Kloess said he had nothing against Lord's actions.

"I didn't have a problem with what he said, but [Superintendent Michael] Koebel knows the rules and knows what people can say and can't say," he told the Belleville paper.

Koebel could not be reached for comment.

James' mother, Beverly Lord, called the school's decision harsh and a suppression of free speech, the paper said.

[mware]

Well folks, I think I have seen about everything now.

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

Well folks, I think I have seen about everything now.

What would happen if somebody sneezes?

[mware]

Actually that happen in the school I teach at. They told the kids they could not have a prayer before the graduation.

Once the kids were on the stage one of them sneezed and almost everyone in the graduation class said, "God Bless You."

There is more than one way to skin a cat.

[nuconvert]

Lord > "God bless"

A month seems really harsh. I wonder if he was warned beforehand not to do it? Are we missing a few details?

[Pan_Yans Wife]

BUMP

[Dataman]

Lord told his student audience: "Have a safe and happy holiday, and God bless."

The President can say it but it is inappropriate for a public school student? This is not a constitutional issue like the ususal whining suspects claim; it is enforcing PC on a minor. Under any other circumstances that would be considered child abuse.

[glock rocks]

Wonder if they'll make the kid change his name too?

[zook]

Bump

[goldstategop]

Liberals think "God Bless" is an establishment of religion and God - oops - knows we can't have that --- tender young minds are going to draw the wrong conclusion about what they can say in front of the microphone. <sarcasm

[sd-joe]

Irony runs deep, when the Lord can not say "God" in public schools, the school and the society is in deep sushi.

[mware]

They have the same story at cnsnews.com. Basically the same informaition.

The American Center for Law and Justice is taking on the case. There may be more details at their site or in the paper of record for Belleville, Ill..

[Chewbacca]

I wonder what would have happened if he had said "God d#$n you"?

[rwfromkansas]

This is a heavy-handed attempt to control the free expression of student publications.

Freep this principal!

[Johnny_Cipher]

What part of Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof are these nitwit school administrators and activist judges having trouble understanding?

[mware]

Here is the name of the high school and principal.

Dupo High School in Belleville, Ill

School Principal Jonathan Heerboth

[mware]

I suspect his phone will be ringing off the hook today.

[chachacha]

Being told before hand not to say it does not make it right.

Sometimes it takes courage to do the right thing.

[AAABEST]

ping

[agrace]

Wonder if they'll make the kid change his name too?

Good one.

[Sloth]

I wonder if it's ok to say, "Praise the Lord!"