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Does prayer in school extend to evoking God in cheerleading? One superintendent thinks so. | Source: ShutterStock
Cheerleading requires a lot of things: coordination, balance, rhythm, enthusiasm. But in one Texas high school, it apparently also requires prayer in school and God, and those are two things that aren’t for everyone.
In Kountze, Texas, some cheerleaders got together and put a Bible verse on a banner for a public school football game–and they were ordered by school officials not to use the banner, because the officials believed it violated the law that bans religious expression at public school (and therefore publicly funded) events. This sent the cheerleaders and then their lawyers into a tizzy, because it posed the question: Is preventing their religious expression in itself a violation of freedom of speech and religion?
It all resulted in a courtroom battle over prayer in school and whether God has a place in a Friday night football event that taxpayers funded. Here’s what’s interesting: The superintendent who ordered that the religious banners not be used is also a Christian. He just didn’t think it had any place in a public school event.
We’re inclined to agree with the superintendent. The article also mentions that no school funds were used to make the banners, which were also made after school hours (though on school property). Keep in mind though, that when the banners would have been waved, taxpayers funded the event (in the form of the game itself). The cheerleaders also insisted that they faced no opposition from anyone else about the banners other than the superintendent and that they had almost universal support from the community. The conundrum that presents itself is if it’s not bothering anyone and no tax dollars were used to do it, is it worth fighting over?
And the answer to that is, it might be, because these laws were put in place to protect the minority from the majority, so if there’s anyone who disagrees with the Christian messages on the banner, they may be scared to speak up for fear of backlash since it seems like everyone else endorses it. That said, it could also be argued that if someone doesn’t like it, they can just roll their eyes and go about their day–but if everyone did that all the time, the majority would be, effectively, silencing the minority. And when you silence the minority, that’s how scary things like tyranny can go down.
The beauty of the separation of church and state is that you’re still free to head over to Bible study, Hebrew school, Islamic studies, or whatever else you want after the 3:15 bell to believe in what you want–and no one else has to pay for it or be subjected to it unless they choose to do so.
Do you think the cheerleading banners were a big deal? Do you think prayer in public schools should be allowed? Do you think God has a place in public schools? comments!
Zayn Malik was bullied over his religion! Not cool.
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no one should be forced to be in a presence of a religion they do or do not believe in. They could have done this whenever else they wanted, but it must have made a least one kid feel awkward or out of place. Church and state are separated and if you are christian good for you but unlike you, the rest of us don’t really care what you religion has to say and don’t really need it or for some want it around us especially at a public school event. Think about other people for once in your life, not everyone in this world thinks like them and the should have respected that. no one should be forced to think one way
So i am a christian. I would like to say that Jesus does exist. He is our savior and he made you and put you on this earth. Hell exist to. So does heaven. You will NOT go to heaven by just being nice and living a meaningful life. You will only go if you truly believe and that he died on the cross to save your sins. Now hell….well lets just say good luck. Hell is an AWFUL place! God loves ya’ll and always will(:
Freedom of religion is just that: freedom of religion. It is not freedom FROM religion. You tolerate other people’s beliefs the same way they tolerate your beliefs. Welcome to the world of grownups. They didn’t use school funds to make these banners. Yes, they may have made them on school property but the school is not doing it.
Religion isn’t something that happens when it is convenient; Christianity is a part of who I am, much like I assume some people are about gay rights or feminist rights. If someone were to have something supporting gay rights, would you still feel the same way? Because there is a minority that would probably be afraid of speaking against it as the majority is for it. And now you’re silencing the minority that disagrees with homosexuality.
I think these girls did a wonderful thing. They also showed that cheerleaders aren’t the ditzy airheads society makes them out to be. They were willing to stand up for what they believed and put time and money into it. Isn’t that a good thing? Isn’t that the kind of thing Gurl supports? There was nothing hateful about there message, they were just encouraging their team. If you are offended by this, then you really need a reality check. I’m sorry, but if you get offended so easily move to Antarctica. I see things every single day that I disagree with, does that mean I am going to put them down for saying what they believe? No, everybody has an opinion and we all have a right to our opinions. We also have the right to express it.
Oh, Texas. There are a lot of christians here. I have to say that I don’t think it’s really fair to try and put the banner up. There are other people with different religions, or no religion, so I view it as being a little bit disrespectful towards them. However, I could probably see the cheerleaders’ point of view, whether it is right or wrong. I have to agree with the superintendant though: If the cheerleaders got permission to put up that banner then that means, athiests, hindus, muslims, jews, and others should get to do it to. And I’m pretty sure there would be an uproar about it, so the cheer team should just stick to ra-ra-ra’s or something. By the way, I live in Texas and I’m christian.
I believe in God, I say bring God in to our schools.
I disagree, I don’t believe in God and I get offended when people bring biblical references into schools or into their type of logic that affects me. I don’t want to be forced to follow rules, read things, or be subjected to things that I don’t believe in. There should be a separation of church and state and state and it makes me uncomfortable when there isn’t.
freedom of speech is really important to me. they should be allowed to express thier beliefs werever the hell they want. actually they deserve respect for being so strong and loving thier religion. if these were muslims you’d all be complaining that they got in trouble.
Nowadays, people are far too worried about offending people. I don’t care if it was a public school, they have a right to express their religious opinions. So long as they are not tearing down the opinions of others, there is nothing wrong with it. That is what this TOLERANCE I keep hearing about means. Want proof that my religion isn’t offensive to someone who thinks differently? The last serious conversation I had about religion was with my Arabic teacher. She wasn’t offended by a word I said, and I wasn’t offended by her. We had more in common than I have with most people today. We were both raised in traditional, religious households, and our religions, albeit different, are a large part of who we are. I don’t ask her not to cover her hair, and she doesn’t ask me not to wear a cross. It is a class at a public college, but we are both fine with the other expressing their religion. And for the many who recommend religious private schools, not everyone can afford them. That’s why I ended up in a public school. And if people who practice Islam are allowed to take time out of their school day to pray at the required time, I am going to be praying in school, too. It doesn’t harm anyone. It doesn’t hurt the minority if the majority is permitted the same rights. I’m sick and tired of people saying I need to hide my beliefs so others aren’t offended. I can tolerate someone else’s beliefs. They can tolerate mine.
pfft pulling ‘the freedom of speech’ card, yeah right, seem to be forgetting everyone elses rights there. you can’ t say stuff that could be seen as offesive, and if your a member of another religion this is defenitly offensive, its like saying by the way if you don’t believe in this religion your not welcome here.
I dont think it was a big deal. It was a big deal that they got in trouble for it! they should have the freedom to talk about thier religion. i get it if the teaches did something but the students are fine!
Great article! This really bothered me when I saw it on the news because I hate when things like this happen. As a non-Christian, I feel like I shouldn’t have to be bombarded by Bible verses every time I go to a public event or to school. If I wanted to learn about the Bible at school, I would go to a Catholic school. There’s nothing wrong with praying at school with your friends to wearing a rosary, but when you force others to be subjected to your religious spiel, that’s where you cross the line.
I’m not christian and I remember the culture shock I had going to a high school in which the majority of people went to church every Sunday. My boyfriend, who grew up in the school district, was sometimes condemned because he had grown up as an atheist. At the same time there is a small but substantial Muslim population at our school,many of my close friends our Muslim and they are always on the defensive about their faith, however interestingly they themselves receive little backfire for their beliefs even if those beliefs are not representative of their faith and offensive to others(I remember my friend unwrapping a piece of chocolate and throwing it on the ground and then holding up a piece of wrapped chocolate and asking if I would take the dirty unwrapped chocolate, that has touched the ground or the nice and pure wrapped piece to describe women who wore a hijab versus those who did not). I was the only person brave enough to tell her that by saying such things she was calling all of her friends who did not wear a hijab dirty and impure.No one else spoke up because they were afraid of offending a minority, but it is deemed socially acceptable to tell my boyfriend he’s going to burn in hell because he does not believe in God.My point is that when we worry so much about offending one group of people it’s very easy to become oppressive to another. Did this banner say anything hateful? Did it tell anyone they were unwrapped piece of chocolate or that they were going to burn in hell?I have a long list of things I dislike about all three Abrahamic Religions but the truth is that Christianity has defined Western
civilization. If these three girls thought it appropriate to put up a bible quote, who cares. Did it hurt anybody? Are we going to start being offended by the fact that some people have different beliefs than our own?
Amen! Oh wait sorry I mean ‘I agree’. Don’t want to offend anyone do I?
separation is not a sometime concept. If you want the christian experience, go to a private school. You chose public school now follow the rules and stop trying to lay guilt on those that are enforcing the rules.
That’s horrible! They were not harming anyone, in any way! If it was something like ‘The Lord shall silence the evil who don’t like our team’ then I would agree. Being free means you can be who you are without hindrance, and for me and many others God is a part of myself, and if I can’t express this in school than where can I? That doesn’t mean I think preaching in a public school should be allowed. My friend is a Hindu and when she prays before dinner at her house I don’t have a frenzy and say I am being oppressed. I understand that this is her belief and it is a part of her, and I don’t change it. Honestly, I don’t see the difference between being banned from praying in school and being banned to practice religion.