Posted on 05/09/2013 1:57:57 PM PDT by Responsibility2nd
The Riverside School District, located in Lake City, Arkansas, recently announced the cancellation of its 6th grade graduation ceremonies after a parent objected to the inclusion of Christian prayers (video below).
According to FoxNews.com, the public school district made the decision after being contacted by the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), which said it was acting on behalf of an unidentified “concerned parent.”
Sixth grade parent Kelly Adams (pictured) said that a group of Christian parents are going to find a church that will host a substitute graduation with Christian prayers.
Adams told KAIT-TV that the town was "mainly Christian" and that "a lot of people were hurt that our rights were taken away."
“We just went to take a stand for God because we felt like out rights were taken away,” Adams added. “I realize they have rights too, but you can’t take rights away from one group and give it to another.”
“We are including everyone, everyone is invited [to the substitute graduation], we want everyone to come and be a part of it. We’re not trying to be pushy or ugly to anybody, we just want them to know there is a God who loves them.”
However, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that only student-led prayers are allowed in public schools, not prayers instigated by adults.
“Those campuses for the last several years had discussed whether we should continue with sixth grade graduation or not. The controversy arose out of this one. When it came to my attention, the board and I decided to go ahead and discontinue sixth grade graduations," Tommy Knight, the superintendent of the Riverside School District, told FoxNews.com.
“It makes no difference how many families want prayer or wouldn’t be offended by prayer at their graduation ceremony,” FFRF attorney Patrick Elliott stated. “The Supreme Court has settled this matter. School graduations must be secular to protect the freedom of conscience of all students.”
Source: KAIT-TV and FoxNews.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excellent solution.
Actually, a little tolerance on the part of the “unidentified concerned parent” is what I’d prefer.
Good for them, and when asked they must say ONE parent complained that there would be a blessing over the children.
Excellent, excellent, do not cave.
No this is NOT an excellent solution. They are cratering to the jerk who complained. They should say go ahead, cancel the ceremony, and then publicize the name of the jerk who did the complaining. And I mean have that person's name on every local tv and radio station and in the newspaper. Let that person's neighbors know who caused their children to miss a milestone in their young life.
Our biggest complaint with the Republican party is they also cower before any democrat. This is the same type of action.
I can pray without anyone realizing it.
Can’t ban that.
They should find the name of this “concerned parent”, and expose them. These people are such cowards, running to FFRF.
I hope everyone shows up at the church and expose the lie about the “one parent who complained”.
Excellent solution.
No this is NOT an excellent solution.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You just posted the solution the residents came up with. So how is this NOT an excellent solution???
My guess is that parent doesn’t exist. This Freedom From Religion group enjoys spoiling events like this. I see nothing in the article that says the prayer was not going to be student led.
Keep an eye on this one. The school may try to get an injunction to prevent the church from having the “graduation” because the child of the complaining parent might get “bullied” after they don’t show up.
I still can’t figure out WHY there are “6th grade graduations” in the first place.....sheesh.
Everyone knows who the complainer is.
I thought you graduated upon finishing high school.
I have asked before and ask again why is the exercise of the First Amendment (free speech and free exercise of religion) prohibited on public property? If the Bill of Rights is not applicable to public property, then what is the point?
Posts like yours are exactly why FR needs a LIKE button.
I know, right?
It’s all about feeling good. And everyone gets special recognition. If they could find a way to award all them the valedictorian...
But hey... This is some small town. And they have Christian values. These are the kind of people that made America great. God bless ‘em.
This is Arkansas. This is a good as they get.
(kidding!!)
Mr. Elliott needs an ass kicking, Texas style.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.