High School Backs Down After Opposing Christian Language in Student's Graduation Speech

The Christian Post ^ | 5/27/21 | Ryan Foley

[marshmallow]

A high school in Michigan has reversed course after initially telling a graduating senior that references to her Christian beliefs were "not appropriate" for her upcoming valedictory speech, her lawyers say.

After receiving a demand letter from the First Liberty Institute, officials at Hillsdale High School relented after pressuring student Elizabeth Turner to alter the valedictory speech for her June 6 graduation ceremony.

"I’m grateful I will be able to share my faith with my classmates, and I pray that God uses this situation to advance His kingdom," Turner said in a statement Thursday shared by First Liberty Institute, a legal nonprofit that defends First Amendment rights.

The religious liberty group sent the letter to Principal Amy Goldsmith on Wednesday, asking her to allow the valedictorian to talk about her faith as she had initially planned.

“Graduation is a time for celebration not censorship,” First Liberty Institute Counsel Keisha Russell said in a statement.

“Students retain their constitutional rights to freedom of expression from elementary school all the way through the graduation ceremony. All public schools should protect the private religious expression of their students."

Turner, who was chosen as one of the school's valedictorian speakers, had planned to tell the crowd that her "future hope is found in my relationship with Christ."

[Howie66]

This needs to happen each and every day, all across the fruited plain!

[a fool in paradise]

The same school no doubt demands that all students use whatever pretend pronouns a person insists must be used regardless of genetics. “Humor their wishes and beliefs”

[KC_Conspirator]

In a recent time, this would be called bigtotry.

[Maudeen]

It use to be when I was in school the majority of public school teachers and administrators use to be Sunday School teachers. I can count them on one hand now in our area. Many teachers aren’t even in church.

[Kevmo]

She taught them a lesson in first amendment rights.

[healy61]

Back to work for Hillsdale locals. The principal will repeat her error unless she leaves your payroll.

[Bob434]

Correction- They were forced to admit that they do not have a constitutional right to prevent students from proclaiming their love for God-

Looks like the student should be the teacher/principle of the school, not the ones who tried to prevent her from her constitutional right to speak-

[T.B. Yoits]

Backing down isn't good enough. The school officials who got caught violating her rights need to be removed from their positions.

Just as they violated her inalienable rights clearly identifed in the Constitutional, they also violated the school bullying policy. There's no room for adults in an education indoctrination system who bully children.