Published November 20, 2006 in the Holland Sentinel as "Separate school and state"
How insane is it that all American children cannot participate in a Bible club at school if they so desire? How wrong is it that Christian children are being persecuted by faculty and staff if they want to pray in school? How unacceptable is it that our valedictorians are not allowed to thank or praise the Lord their God as part of their commencement speech?
If a local school board wants to allow their schools to have Bible clubs on campus, they should be allowed to do so without governmental persecution. Criteria would need to be established and upheld to ensure the club's activities are in keeping with the school's guidelines. Such clubs would be voluntary, require faculty sponsorship and hopefully parental involvement, just like the chess club, the Spanish club or the debate club.
What about other religions? If the local school board wants to allow religious clubs on its campuses, they should also be allowed to do so. Consider Dearborn, where there is a huge Muslim student body. If there is a demand for a Koran club and there is faculty support of such a program, students should be allowed to have a religious club.
If a student wants to pray silently at his desk prior to the commencement of class or taking an exam, he should feel free to do so without being chastised by the teacher. If a student wants to pray over her lunch tray in the cafeteria, she should be able to do so without any pressure from faculty or staff. If a team of students want to pray before a big game, they should be allowed to do so. And if the coach is invited and wants to participate in the prayer, she should be encouraged to do so.
All across this "great" nation, our brightest and our best students are acknowledged at commencement ceremonies by giving their valedictorian speech. In too many cases, these most honorable students are being told that they will face stiff penalties if they mention God in their speech. Can someone please tell me when and how these students became part of school staff, subjecting them to this ludicrous misrepresentation of the separation of church and state, as it relates to public schools?
The valedictorian is simply a student of the school. He or she does not represent the faculty, the staff, the school itself, or the country. These students should be encouraged to say whatever is in their hearts and on their minds at their commencement ceremony. The government has no business and no right to interfere with a speech from one student to other students. How can we be such a "great" nation, when we stifle the "free speech" of our future leaders?
The government needs to get out of the business of running schools and let local school boards manage their academic programs according to the culture of their respective communities. The schools are not government bodies and the faculty members are not government officials. Just because their salaries are paid by our taxes, that does not justify holding them to the same standards as our elected officials.
What is the difference between a school principal and the foreman of an engineering company hired by the government to lay 100 miles of highway? Is the contractor prohibited from expressing his faith in the workplace, as the principal is? What is the difference between a Navy chaplain and a high school guidance counselor? Why is one allowed to express his faith, while the other is prohibited from even mentioning matters of faith on the job?
The concept of the "separation of church and state" has gone too far and it is time for a common sense correction. It is time to allow God back into the schools where the majority of the people who send their kids to those schools want Him there. It is time for a separation of school and state.
Alan Helvig is a local resident. He can be reached at Alan@Helvitorial.com.
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