General Discussion

madmom

(9,681 posts) Fri May 24, 2013, 10:10 PM May 2013

Question about separation of church and state...

I live close to a public school. In the evening I take a walk to the school and around the parking lot for exercise. Today I was close enough to the football field to notice a placard that was posted there. It said... Football pledge: I promise to love God, Myself, the (insert school name) school system and the program.

I am no constitutional scholar by a long shot, so my question is, is this wrong? I feel it is. This is a public school. Both my children are grown and out of school, but they did go there. I know for a fact that it wasn't there then, it is a fairly recent addition to the field.

8 replies

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Question about separation of church and state... (Original Post) madmom May 2013 OP

"Wrong" isn't the point; it is ILLEGAL. WinkyDink May 2013 #1

I think it is illegal. hrmjustin May 2013 #2

Contact the school. longship May 2013 #3

I think its illegal LostOne4Ever May 2013 #4

I thought there was some ruling about after school programs. Someone else can help more but okaawhatever May 2013 #5

Thanks all for the input. Not sure what I will do yet. madmom May 2013 #6

It depends on who put it up marshall May 2013 #7

Ridiculous. I'd be embarrassed for the kids bhikkhu May 2013 #8

WinkyDink

(51,311 posts)

1. "Wrong" isn't the point; it is ILLEGAL.

Reply to madmom (Original post)

Fri May 24, 2013, 10:12 PM

May 2013

hrmjustin

(71,265 posts)

2. I think it is illegal.

Reply to madmom (Original post)

Fri May 24, 2013, 10:15 PM

May 2013

longship

(40,416 posts)

3. Contact the school.

Reply to madmom (Original post)

Fri May 24, 2013, 11:37 PM

May 2013

Then, contact FFRF, if the school does not respond appropriately.

FFRF

LostOne4Ever

(9,289 posts)

4. I think its illegal

Reply to madmom (Original post)

Fri May 24, 2013, 11:42 PM

May 2013

I would contact the ACLU, FFRF, or Americans United for the Sepeartion of Church and State myself.

okaawhatever

(9,462 posts)

5. I thought there was some ruling about after school programs. Someone else can help more but

Reply to madmom (Original post)

Fri May 24, 2013, 11:42 PM

May 2013

I'm going to try to google it.

madmom

(9,681 posts)

6. Thanks all for the input. Not sure what I will do yet.

Reply to madmom (Original post)

Sat May 25, 2013, 12:40 AM

May 2013

marshall

(6,665 posts)

7. It depends on who put it up

Reply to madmom (Original post)

Sat May 25, 2013, 12:52 AM

May 2013

If one of the children put it up as some kind of after school program, like Fellowship of Christian Athletes, then it could be acceptable. You might want to ask one of your neighbors who has children in school.

bhikkhu

(10,718 posts)

8. Ridiculous. I'd be embarrassed for the kids

Reply to madmom (Original post)

Sat May 25, 2013, 01:04 AM

May 2013

...and this is from one who went to catholic school for 8 years. Teaching kids to pray is one thing that doesn't belong in school, but worse is teaching kids involved in sports to pray to god to make their team win.

The idea of a god that has nothing better to do than take sides in a football game should be embarrassing to the kids, the parents, the teachers, the school board, any local religious institutions, and so on.

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