Freethought & Rationalism Archive

gravitybow · 05-08-2003, 10:29 PM

The activity during school hours is definitely illegal:

Quote:

from Religion In The Public Schools: A Joint Statement Of Current Law:

Released Time
18. Schools have the discretion to dismiss students to off-premises religious instruction, provided that schools do not encourage or discourage participation or penalize those who do not attend. 20. Schools may not allow religious instruction by outsiders on premises during the school day.

Hey, don't know where #19 went, but if you scroll down to the bottom of that link, you'll see a whole bunch of folks, including Chrisitans, who signed on. The above comes directly from...

Quote:

...the UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION:

Released time: Subject to applicable State laws, schools have the discretion to dismiss students to off-premises religious instruction, provided that schools do not encourage or discourage participation or penalize those who do not attend. Schools may not allow religious instruction by outsiders on school premises during the school day.

Even Pat Robertson's American Center for Law and Justice has the US Dept of Ed guidelines above posted on its Resources page.

Finally, here's the Equal Access Act from the U.S. Code:

Quote:

Title 20, Chapter 52, Section 4071:

Sec. 4071. - Denial of equal access prohibited

(a) Restriction of limited open forum on basis of religious, political, philosophical, or other speech content prohibited

It shall be unlawful for any public secondary school which receives Federal financial assistance and which has a limited open forum to deny equal access or a fair opportunity to, or discriminate against, any students who wish to conduct a meeting within that limited open forum on the basis of the religious, political, philosophical, or other content of the speech at such meetings.

(b) ''Limited open forum'' defined

A public secondary school has a limited open forum whenever such school grants an offering to or opportunity for one or more noncurriculum related student groups to meet on school premises during noninstructional time.

(c) Fair opportunity criteria

Schools shall be deemed to offer a fair opportunity to students who wish to conduct a meeting within its limited open forum if such school uniformly provides that -

(1)
the meeting is voluntary and student-initiated;

(2)
there is no sponsorship of the meeting by the school, the government, or its agents or employees;

(3)
employees or agents of the school or government are present at religious meetings only in a nonparticipatory capacity;

(4)
the meeting does not materially and substantially interfere with the orderly conduct of educational activities within the school; and

(5)
nonschool persons may not direct, conduct, control, or regularly attend activities of student groups.

(d) Construction of subchapter with respect to certain rights

Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to authorize the United States or any State or political subdivision thereof -

(1)
to influence the form or content of any prayer or other religious activity;

(2)
to require any person to participate in prayer or other religious activity;

(3)
to expend public funds beyond the incidental cost of providing the space for student-initiated meetings;

(4)
to compel any school agent or employee to attend a school meeting if the content of the speech at the meeting is contrary to the beliefs of the agent or employee;

(5)
to sanction meetings that are otherwise unlawful;

(6)
to limit the rights of groups of students which are not of a specified numerical size; or

(7)
to abridge the constitutional rights of any person.

(e) Federal financial assistance to schools unaffected

Notwithstanding the availability of any other remedy under the Constitution or the laws of the United States, nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to authorize the United States to deny or withhold Federal financial assistance to any school.

(f) Authority of schools with respect to order, discipline, well-being, and attendance concerns

Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to limit the authority of the school, its agents or employees, to maintain order and discipline on school premises, to protect the well-being of students and faculty, and to assure that attendance of students at meetings is voluntary.

Simply put, outsiders and/or faculty can't hold religious services at public schools during classtime. It can't be any plainer.

Toto · 05-08-2003, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ex-xian

(if these are too large, then I ask a mod to erase them and I'll post link instead.)

http://3rdwaveuth.org/sbimages/lfa4.jpg

http://3rdwaveuth.org/sbimages/lfa5.jpg

They are not overwhelming, but the second is too dark to see anything (at least on my screen)

Felstorm · 05-09-2003, 12:04 AM

This people...Is the face of future stupidity.

Look he's already practicing his "god needs money" smile.

Notice the vacant cow-like look in this individuals eyes.

Felstorm · 05-09-2003, 12:36 AM

On a more serious note you should get their names and adresses. The times and locations of these events. Confirm that they are being held within school hours. And then send the information to the Freedom From Religion Foundation and the ACLU. If what you describe is true what they are doing is illegal and you can get them thrown out of school. Be prepared for a battle.

www.ffrf.org

Happy Wonderer · 05-12-2003, 11:05 AM

School district sued over evangalistic crusade

Here is another one, this sounds more blatant if possible:

Quote:

Her family has filed a federal lawsuit against Union County schools, claiming the crusade, prayers over the loudspeaker, a Christmas nativity play, a Bible handout and other proselytizing activities in the rural school system have become so pervasive they are a threat to safety and religious liberty.

And an example of Christian witlessing:

Quote:

After Christmas break in early 2002, India said three boys chased her down a hall at Horace Maynard Middle School, grabbed her by the neck and said, "You better change your religion or we'll change it for you."

hw

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05-09-2003, 12:04 AM	#13
Felstorm Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Minnesota Posts: 49	This people...Is the face of future stupidity. Look he's already practicing his "god needs money" smile. Notice the vacant cow-like look in this individuals eyes.

05-09-2003, 12:36 AM	#14
Felstorm Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Minnesota Posts: 49	On a more serious note you should get their names and adresses. The times and locations of these events. Confirm that they are being held within school hours. And then send the information to the Freedom From Religion Foundation and the ACLU. If what you describe is true what they are doing is illegal and you can get them thrown out of school. Be prepared for a battle. www.ffrf.org

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