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Over the years, the culture war has evolved. In 1980s, there was a focus on school prayer and pornography. In 1990s, we heard more about Ten Commandments displays and gays in the military. In the 2000s, it was civil unions and immigration.
There are some constants -- abortion rights and guns, for example -- but issues tend to take turns at the top of the culture war to-do list.
It's why it comes as something of a surprise to see Amendment 2 on the ballot in Missouri today, trying to change the state constitution to "clarify" students' prayer rights in public schools. (Contrary to popular myth, school prayer is perfectly legal, so long as the schools stay out of it.)
The New York Times editorial board makes the case today that the Missouri measure is inviting "havoc in classrooms by giving students the right to refuse to read anything or do any assignments that they claim offends their religious views."
The ballot summary about the amendment says it would ensure right of citizens to express their religious beliefs without infringement and students the right to pray in schools. The actual words the State Legislature approved in the amendment, however, would do more.
They would allow students who believe in creationism, for example, to opt out of assignments on evolution: "no student shall be compelled to perform or participate in academic assignments or educational presentations that violate his or her religious beliefs." This language would almost certainly lead to litigation about who controls the curriculum in public schools.
Another change could lead to litigation about where nonsectarian, constitutional invocations cross the line into sectarian, unconstitutional prayers; instead of seeking the Almighty's blessing, for example, officials at public events could ask for Jesus's blessing.
The reason school prayer faded as a hot-button issue is because, in time, even critics of Supreme Court rulings on the matter realized there was no point in fighting for a right that already exist. A student wants to pray before class? That's already legal. Students want to invite other students to religious services? That's legal, too.
But I guess in Missouri, the issue has apparently made a comeback for no apparent reason. This isn't a positive development.
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Whatever happened to my freedom from other people's designated religuluoun? Frankly why does the Christian right feel offended when I label them as the Christian Taliban - after all it was the Taliban that instituted Sharia law, no schooling for girls, women in burquas, women as second class citizens, etc.! Be ready this Taliban is coming for a town near you!
I just went to the link and found this under the oppositions talking points:
So, if a valedictorian wants to thank God as part of his/her speech, he/she is unable to do so. This amendment would allow that to happen but opponents see that as infringing on their rights. I think I've got this right.
We use ARABIC numerals when doing math. OMG!!! Mathematics is a Muslim thing. So kids will be able to use a religious exemption from math requirements.
Wow!! The possibilities for creative educational requirement dodging are almost endless here. Those lucky Missouri students!
As a public school teacher, I can tell you that students giving speeches are allowed to thank God. We pledge allegiance under God every morning. Our coaches thank God for a good season or ask God for a good season right in front of the faculty, the student body, and even the superintendent every once in a while. What the school cannot do is state which God is the one to refer to.
The school cannot tell a Jewish valedictorian to thank or not to thank Jehovah. Or a Muslim student to pray or not to pray to Allah. (We had an exchange student who was Muslim and had to find ways to accommodate his praying at least 2 of the daily prayers only to find that he was fine with skipping those prayers during the school day.) We cannot say Catholic prayers over the PA system in the morning. Or quote Bible passages as Truth. We can discuss religious beliefs, even our own religious beliefs or lack thereof. We cannot state to our students that our personal belief is the true path to God and that those who disagree are going to Hell.
We cannot stop a student from praying. We can ask that they pray silently instead of out loud in class. Or if they must pray out loud, we can send them to the nurse's office. We cannot tell them that they cannot use God or the Bible as an argument in an essay, but we can tell them that if we are looking for Facts that the Bible is not acceptable as Fact by itself; it must be backed up with historical references.
The no-prayer-in-school does not stop a student from praying or believing. It stops the teachers and administration from saying "this is God and how you should believe in God". That statement belongs in a church/temple/mosque - not in a school.
@RobDon
The valedictorian thanking God in his/her speech is protected under the 1st Amendment. Demanding that everyone in the audience bow their heads to thank his/her God with him/her violates the 1st Amendment right of non-believers in the audience.
Also, what if the valedictorian wishes to use the word Allah instead of God?
@math teacher:
Excellent summary of the reality in public school, to which I can only add, "Amen!"
Someone is surprised that Republitroll RobDon (robbed on - a good name for a Republican) is a moron?
I'm not a bit surprised that RomneyDon is here engaging in his usual misrepresentation. Odd that someone who has claimed (although not recently, that I've noticed) to be an "atheist" is so aggressive (and dishonest) in supporting Militant Reactionary Christians (who are clearly seeking a de jure Christian theocracy). After all, RomneyDon is still fighting the bad fight for the Ohio Republicans in the "Speaking of unsubstantiated claims..." thread.
Tsk... My "After all..." sentence is a follow-up to the first sentence, not to the one immediately preceding.
What about Satanists? Do they get a chance to pray and proselytize? They believe in God. They worship someone else. What about atheists? Do they get a chance to have a few minutes of explanation of their beliefs? Buddhists may want to meditate, Zen to practice Zazen. I think the good people of Missouri are quickly going to find their world isn't as monochromatic as they think it is...
I suggest that whenever a Christian rises to pray in school, someone should always follow it with a Bible verse, preferably the one that starts: "Be not like the Pharisees..."
Maybe a little more clarity is needed. With just a quick search I found where less than 2 years ago the Montana Supreme court ruled a school district violated a valedictorian's rights because they would not allow her to use the word God or Christ in her speech.
Counter to what some commenters say, I do not make things up and I source my facts, especially when asked. Granted, others can disagree with my opinions but I welcome corrections that are sourced on facts.
To math teacher, I, too, think you did a great job of summarizing some what is allowed and not allowed in schools. The problem is that many do not understand or follow these guides (on both sides) as evident by the fore mentioned case.
The site linked as opposition to the bill seems to NOT want students to mention God or Christ or any type of religious message because it would appear to be supported by the school. I quoted the relevant passage in my first post. How else do you interpret it?
Good ol' RomneyDon, still having a pity party for poor, persecuted Christians. Never mind that the country is awash in Christianity. For example, I'm sure he sees nothing wrong with the fact that Christians put a reference to their god in the "Pledge of Allegiance".
As in all things of great import, I think Divine Guidance is called for.
As we heard in The Soft Parade, we should, "petition the Lord with prayer". And await his reply. Preferably, in writing.
(Of course, Jim Morrison also told us: "You CANNOT petition the Lord with prayer!"
Why is it that the xtian god is so damn weak she needs her sheeple to demand the support of government (of all things) to prop up her image? Probably because her grovelers are such pathetic representatives!
I understand that Missouri is St. Louis to the east, Kansas City to the west, and Arkansas in between. Still, I'm surprised at Missouri. Part of my family came from there, so it's a little distressing to see this. It's been a state in decline for some time. This kind of nonsense will only hasten that decline.
I am from St. Louis. Your understanding is essentially correct, but I think this might be an insult to Arkansas. This stupid amendment is going to pass. I love my city and Kansas City is awesome, but I can't believe that I now live in a state that puts a bust of Rush Limbaugh in the Capitol. The Republican senate primary here has been a thing to behold.
Although I am not a religious person, during my 22 yrs in the classroom I often prayed (though silently):
Lord, help me to get through this period;
God help me not to show anger in front of the class;
May ***** be sent directly to hell;
If you help keep my mouth shut during this parent meeting, I will be a better person;
Let that administrator know all of the pestilences.
I did not need the state to legislate my right to pray at school.
I would support a law that required more Mathematics in schools. Some how this never seems to be part of the agenda.
I guess mathematics isn't Theologically Correct in Militant Reactionary Christian WackyWorld. :-/
one more pathetic attempt at Christians to control people. Just like that twit in, hmmm Louisiana was it, who was "shocked, shocked" when she never read the bill and realized that it would cover other religions too. This is why religion is poison. Christians are trying to make their children ill-educated clones that will be dependent on low wage jobs and will make the US a place that never will be able to do something like Curiosity again.
I can just see it now, the possible slippery slope that would follow: schools insisting that they don't have to teach girls eithers, just like the Taliban, since well their religion says that girls are just property to make babies on. People with skin darker than a Scadinavians don't need to be taught either since their god said that the "descendants of Ham" will only be slaves. My religion says that african americans are awful and shouldn't be allowed on the football team so that's my religious "right" to demand that they be kept off. My religion says teams should be segregated.
This is all well and good until those of the Other religions try to use those laws then all hell breaks loose.
I just returned from voting against this very issue. There is little doubt that Missouri is in trouble. I find Roy Blunt and Billy Long to be an embarrassment. Blunt does not deserve to be re-elected because of his extremist views. While I now live in Springfield, I have previously lived in Columbia and St. Louis. This part of the state is beautiful but the ingrained lack of empathy for those less fortunate or those who hold a larger view of the world is painful to watch. I truly doubt that I will stay here long-term.
Prayer in public schools has been part of the culture war since the Vitale ruling in 1962. It has been percolating ever since that time and now the religious right is exercising its muscle to push through all sorts of unconstitutional measures. This is just one of those items in a long list of "moral" issues that the right will keep pushing.
"They would allow students who believe in creationism, for example, to opt out of assignments on evolution: 'no student shall be compelled to perform or participate in academic assignments or educational presentations that violate his or her religious beliefs.'"
And there's your new missed homework excuse:
"Well, I was going to do that ten page paper, but Jesus told me it was wrong."
Jesus made the dog eat it!
Term papers are an abomination unto Nuggan.
Question for the blog author realizing your previous work history and assiciation history with Americans United for Seperation of Church & State.
The author got his Master's at the George Washington University while interning at the Office of Speechwriting in Bill Clinton's White House. He has written direct mail for a major Democratic consulting firm, worked as a communications director for a congressional campaign, and for six years, was part of the communications department at Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
Are you still working for Rev Lynn or just brushing up on your skills with this blog subject matter?
I live in Missouri and I am embarrassed that this measure is even on the ballot. I am also concerned because I heard very little of this issue prior to receiving a sample ballot and I'm afraid people will read it and think its harmless and vote yes because they are uninformed.
If kids in public schools can refuse to do any school work that offends their religious sensibilities, pretty soon the public schools will no longer be able to function. And then we'll HAVE to privatize the school system, affording religious schools the opportunity to force-feed THEIR religious beliefs on their students WITHOUT government being able to stop them, and being able to force kids to accept their religious beliefs or flunk, no matter how good a student they might otherwise be, PLUS they are then allowed to teach them that man and dinosaurs co-existed and Nathaniel Bedford Forrest was a misunderstood genius.
Don't you see? They had to destroy the schools in order to save them.
And right-wing "atheists/agnostics" will either deny that it is happening or insist that they can teach what they want in their schools. There are more people like that than most people probably realize.
It's all about stirring up the base over the fear of "those others."
I try to stay calm at what other states do but these idiots are a bunch of F'ing MORONS. I am getting very tired of these jackasses trying to make America rot from the inside out. They are wrong. CLEARLY most of them suffer from a lack of education but somewhere in their little pea brains have decided that they are SMARTER than everyone else. Thank GOD I live in a 'normal' state.
Get out of bed in the morning-
Get out of bed in the morning get on your knee's say your prayers get up and go to school!
Get out of bed, get on your knee's say your prayers, get up and go to school. Is that a plan you can live with or not?
I'm an atheist and I teach.
I love my job. But because I teach a science course, sometimes the topic of religion/god comes up (especially when I used to teach Astronomy; Big Bang and all that). It's good to know what the laws are and where the lines are so I can answer confidently, "Believe whatever you wish; that's for you to decide, not me or anyone else for you." As for prayer, a couple of students have prayed before my tests. Not a problem; they're welcome to do so. (Even though personally, I think the ones who are taking a last look at their notes are spending their time more wisely.)