A middle school in Kansas City is facing a federal lawsuit; they are accused of violating a student's First Amendment rights by prohibiting that student to post fliers with bible versus promoting the "See you at the Pole" event, a national event in which teens pray around their school flagpoles. The school district does have a strict policy of prohibiting the distribution of religious materials on school grounds. Although school sponsored prayers at public schools are unconstitutional, should prayers organized by the students themselves be allowed by free speech rights? If these fliers are permitted, should Christmas trees in public schools, executed by the students, be allowed as well?http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/12/03/kan-school-reportedly-prohibits-student-from-posting-poster-with-bible-verses/
5 comments:
I think that as long as they are not sponsored by the school I think it's fine. I don't see the problem in posting religious fliers around schools especially when there are secular flies posted too. As it is not enforcing students to do on things or infringing on their rights I don't think it is a big deal. However school provided Christmas trees are a bigger issue. While I like having them at school I can see how the tree can affect people who do not want the tree. I think the group can pray as long as it's not "school sponsored" which is key in this situation.
I do not have a problem with students making their religious believes known to the public; I also think that if the students can take it upon themselves to organize it, they can set up a Christmas tree. However, I do think that it could lead to some issues on campus between students of different faiths. I also worry that students might focus more of their attention on setting this sort of event up than on their studies. The fact is, if the students are the only ones setting it up, complications are bound to arise due to prior commitments they have made. In short, I support their right to express their beliefs, but I think that the process of putting on events in support of these beliefs could be too time-consuming.
I don't think that this will be an issue of time consumption. Especially since many students involve them selves in plenty of extracurricular activity like sports, clubs, music etc. I mean I probably spend three hours of my day easily training or practicing so I think that students are smart enough to know their own schedule if they are involved in clubs like in this situation. So, I don't think time will be an issue.
I agree with the both of you guys; as long as the school isn't encouraging these events, it should be fine. BUT, do you guys think that even though it isn't a school sponsored event, the location of these events are kind of iffy (praying around SCHOOL flagpole? posters in school hallways? tree in school grounds?)?
"See You at the Pole" is a national event; the Aragon Christian Club usually participates in it, with members gathering on the designated day before school. I think it should be okay for students to organize such events and post fliers because they do not directly impose their beliefs onto others or promote discrimination of some kind in doing so. If clubs are allowed to post fliers around school, and the Christian Club is considered equal to other clubs, it should be allowed to post fliers as well.
On the other hand, as Keith said, I think that even student groups should perhaps be prohibited from setting up a Christmas tree at school. Although it might be okay for students to organize events or gatherings, having a clear public display of something that remains a symbol of a religious holiday for an extended period of time would seem to suggest that such religious views are held by school administrators; this might seem to impose one religion on faculty and students, and veer towards unconstitutionality, like school-sponsored prayer.
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