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Valedictorian Defies School District and Recites Lord's Prayer [W:618]

Should the school have banned the reading of the prayer by the student?

  • Yes

    Votes: 24 27.3%

  • No

    Votes: 60 68.2%

  • Undecided

    Votes: 4 4.5%
  • Total voters
    88
ChezC3 said:
and perhaps that is a sad thing...
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Are you saying a teacher should have no control over his/her own classroom (including verbal content)?
 
Geoist said:
Are you saying a teacher should have no control over his/her own classroom (including verbal content)?
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Students don't even get the right to free speech in college classrooms, private institution or not, let alone public K-12!
 
I think the time has come to stop bowing to every sensitive whiny little self centered punk who gets their feelings hurt by words. If he is saying something you don't like get up and leave. The world does not revolve around you, get over it.
 
Geoist said:
Are you saying a teacher should have no control over his/her own classroom (including verbal content)?
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Not in the slightest. You're trying to send this down the argumentum ad absurdum route.

I find it disturbing though, considering the level of comportment students show -- which was traditionally a part of their education -- has sunk to unspeakable lows, that the thought of a student praying is what is found to be so offensive, that we find this, this to be a vital topic of contention...

It really does say something about this society we've created...
 
ChezC3 said:
Not in the slightest. You're trying to send this down the argumentum ad absurdum route.

I find it disturbing though, considering the level of comportment students show -- which was traditionally a part of their education -- has sunk to unspeakable lows, that the thought of a student praying is what is found to be so offensive, that we find this, this to be a vital topic of contention...

It really does say something about this society we've created...
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How is a prayer that has no malicious speech offensive? I too don't understand. People are just too sensitive I guess and can't accept the fact that other people have opinions that should be allowed to be given as well. It is just nonsense.
 
davidtaylorjr said:
How is a prayer that has no malicious speech offensive? I too don't understand. People are just too sensitive I guess and can't accept the fact that other people have opinions that should be allowed to be given as well. It is just nonsense.
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It isn't, it is about some whining, intolerants who feel the need to stifle the 1st Amendment rights of others because they "don't wanna hear it..."
 
Of course the school had the right to ban it. It is a religious text spoken at a public event on the tax payer dime.

If they would have given a disclaimer on the commencement pamphlets claiming that the student's speeches are their own and don't represent the views of the school than it would have been fine.

You have to be clear when you are in the public sector. No religion should be valued over any other idea when in the public forum (paid by taxpayers).

It's not just this certain piece of scripture, but any words in any religious text that are not allowed. For good reason too.
 
AreteCourage said:
Of course the school had the right to ban it. It is a religious text spoken at a public event on the tax payer dime.

If they would have given a disclaimer on the commencement pamphlets claiming that the student's speeches are their own and don't represent the views of the school than it would have been fine.

You have to be clear when you are in the public sector. No religion should be valued over any other idea when in the public forum (paid by taxpayers).

It's not just this certain piece of scripture, but any words in any religious text that are not allowed. For good reason too.
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Nice try, but that doesn't hold water. Presidents, Congress, Courts, they all use religious texts on tax payers dimes every day.
 
davidtaylorjr said:
Nice try, but that doesn't hold water. Presidents, Congress, Courts, they all use religious texts on tax payers dimes every day.
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Doesn't make it correct now does it?

Just because they use it doesn't mean it is right. It is wrong for anyone to use a public funded forum and preach or recite any religious text.

Freedom of religion and freedom FROM religion.
 
AreteCourage said:
Doesn't make it correct now does it?

Just because they use it doesn't mean it is right. It is wrong for anyone to use a public funded forum and preach or recite any religious text.

Freedom of religion and freedom FROM religion.
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The Constitution doesn't say that though. The Constitution says Congress shall make no law regarding the establishment of a religion. Using the text in a speech is not equal with making a law.
 
ChezC3 said:
Not in the slightest. You're trying to send this down the argumentum ad absurdum route.
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On the contrary, the notion that a school having some control over school functions is anti-first amendment is absurd. It is no different than a teacher having control over his/her classroom.

I find it disturbing though, considering the level of comportment students show -- which was traditionally a part of their education -- has sunk to unspeakable lows, that the thought of a student praying is what is found to be so offensive, that we find this, this to be a vital topic of contention...
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Who said I was offended by what he said? (btw, I am a Christian myself and have recited the Lord's Prayer on numerous occasions.)
 
davidtaylorjr said:
How is a prayer that has no malicious speech offensive? I too don't understand. People are just too sensitive I guess and can't accept the fact that other people have opinions that should be allowed to be given as well. It is just nonsense.
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Please point to me where I said I was offended by the speech.
 
Jerry said:
This speach didn't occure in a classroom.
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So what? It still happened at school. A teacher has control over content in the classroom just as administration has control over school functions. Is the connection that hard to follow?
 
davidtaylorjr said:
I wasn't addressing you so I'm not sure why you are asking me this.
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You were addressing Chez's quote which addressed me. And really, I don't think anyone was saying they were offended by the speech personally, just that administration has the authority to review speeches, that this is not a 1st amendment issue, and that what the student did was dishonest.
 
Geoist said:
You were addressing Chez's quote which addressed me.
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I was addressing a piece of his quote, not you. There are some people who do take offense to simply hearing opposing views, why? I do not know the answer to that question. But I was not addressing you.
 
AGENT J said:
i dont want them too nor was i pushing for that just so you are clear
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Why not, if what he did was so bad? To show our commitment to religious freedom shouldn't we really throw the book at him?
 
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