Moment high school football players in TN led prayer after district BANNED teachers from worship
High school football players in Tennessee led parents and fans in prayer under the Friday night lights after school administrators were banned from public religious displays last week.
Putnam County student athletes gathered parents, students, and fans on the field after Upperman High School and Stone Memorial High School football teams finished their game.
Putnam County school alumn, Bob Vick, shared a picture of the teams uniting for the student-led prayer on Facebook which went viral over the weekend gathering 3.1K shares and 1.7K likes.
Vick captioned the photo: 'Satan's power was defeated tonight, as the threat of a legal action to forbid prayer after the game was overwhelmed by player lead prayer supported by parents and fans in solidarity on Overall Field. God bless the Baxter and Stone players for their faith and courage.'
'Satan's power was defeated tonight, as the threat of a legal action to forbid prayer after the game was overwhelmed by player lead prayer supported by parents and fans in solidarity on Overall Field,' Bob Vick captioned this photo of Putnam County student athletes on Friday
The county had recently been reprimanded by Americans United for Separation of Church and State noting that 'there were several instances of prayer and proselytizing at events at Cookeville and Upperman high schools'
Following the letter to the school district, school administrators were reminded that it is against the law for them to lead students in prayer or guide them religiously
Vick referenced the recent letter sent to the school district from Americans United for Separation of Church and State noting that 'there were several instances of prayer and proselytizing at events at Cookeville and Upperman high schools.'
A spokesperson for Putnam County Schools said that the school board's attorney was notified and instructed all administrators to adhere by the policies and laws prohibiting them from leading prayer.
The spokesperson said: 'The case law not allowing prayer or proselytizing is clear. Courts have consistently ruled that prayer and proselytizing can not be sponsored by schools or school personnel.'
The school added: 'As a district, we absolutely understand the importance of prayer in the lives of our students, faculty, and staff members. We support the right of students to participate in and lead spontaneous prayers.
'That right is and will continue to be protected. We also understand that faculty and staff members can not lead or participate in the spontaneous student-led prayers.'
In response, Upperman students and parents organized their own student-led prayer on the field following Friday night's game.
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Both sides of the debate regarding prayer in school considered Friday night's student-led prayer a win
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Parent Dustin Whitefield told FOX 17, 'We do realize this is a public school, but it has always been optional for players to pray, and has been a voluntary event. Players that still want to pray will have to do it on their own.'
He explained the plan, 'After the game, players and cheerleaders that choose to will be on the field praying on their own. A group of parents will be going out on the field to support them. We will join hands and encircle them from a distance as a sign of protection and solidarity in choosing to continue to pray. This is a parent-led event! We are encouraging anyone that would like to show their support to please join us.'
After Upperman defeated Stone Memorial 27-9, parents, students, and fans walked on the field and gathered in prayer as planned in a picture that has since swept the internet.
Americans United for Separation of Church and State celebrated the gathering as, 'A great WIN for C-S Separation! 'This came in response to a letter from @americansunited who wrote to PCS that there were several instances of prayer and proselytizing at events at Cookeville and Upperman high schools.'
The photo and news of the prayer gathering was met with mostly encouraging comments as people from both sides of the debate seemed to see Friday night's congregation as a win.
ACLU Legal Bulletin: The Establishment Clause And Public Schools
'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.'
These opening words of the First Amendment to the Constitution set forth a dual guarantee of religious liberty.
The Supreme Court has long held that the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment forbids school-sponsored prayer or religious indoctrination.
The Court has determined that the Constitution commands that public schools may not take sides in matters of religion and may not endorse a particular religious perspective or any religion at all.
Over thirty years ago, the Court struck down classroom prayers and scripture readings even where they were voluntary and students had the option of being excused. See School Dist. of Abington Township v. Schempp, 374 U.S. 203 (1963); Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421 (1962).
The Court earlier had struck down a 'released-time' program providing voluntary religious instruction in public schools during regular school hours. See Illinois ex rel. McCollum v. Board of Educ., 333 U.S. 203, 209-10 (1948).
More recently, the Supreme Court has held that a school district may not require that students observe a moment of silence at the beginning of the school day where the purpose of such a requirement is that students use that time for prayer. Wallace, 472 U.S. at 40.
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