In Maplesville Alabama, Maplesville High School has been asked by the foundation, "Freedom from Religion" to remove the statement "God Bless America" from a plaque in the high school office and its website.
According to Theadoris Morris,of the Clanton Advertiser, "The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) mailed a letter this past summer to former Superintendent of Education Keith Moore and Maplesville Principal Maggie Hicks demanding the references to God be removed."
She goes on to share that "The letter, sent from FFRF staff attorney Rebecca Markert, claims the website and plaque violate the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause. The letter, dated July 27, 2010, is written on behalf of a “concerned area resident, taxpayer and parent of a Chilton preschool student” and other members of the nonprofit organization.The letter says the First Amendment “prohibits government sponsorship of religious messages” and asked that the references be “removed immediately.”
The school is responding to the letter by seeking legal counsel. They have also switched the saying to "In God We Trust." This according to the school, is posted in Congress and on documents given to the school by Congress.
Christian Educators Association International stands behind Maplesville High School. We hope that level headed thinking will prevail and that the school will be legally permitted to post these slogans.
What do you think? Should the school be permitted to post "God Bless America" or "In God We Trust" on their website and plaques in school buildings? Or, is this a vioation of separation of church and state?
2 comments:
yes they should be able to keep it if the President can say it over public radio and T.V. then schools should be able to post it.
The school may not want to take it to the media because of the possible negative backlash (from national media), but here in Alabama there are three things that pretty much go before all else - God, country and college football (in that order). If some outside org wants to make an example of the school - let them make an example of the state. They picked this fight; let us end it - IN GOD WE TRUST.
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