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ACLU Targets ‘Unconstitutional’ Religious Behavior At Charter School
August 9, 2012
The ACLU of Northwest Florida is targeting alleged “unconstitutional” religious behavior at an Escambia County charter school.
The letter sent to Superintendent Malcolm Thomas this week by Susan Watson of the ACLU claims that employees at the Jacqueline Harris Preparatory Academy promotes personal religious beliefs.
“They sponsor prayer at various school events and generally proselytize students during classes and other school-sponsored events and activities,” the letter states.
The letter demands that the Escambia County School District issue an immediate order to JHPA employees to cease the alleged behavior.
The ACLU is also demanding that “unconstitutional religious content” be removed the JHPA web page.
The school’s website mentions God in reference to the history behind the school:
“The Jacqueline Harris Preparatory Academy was named after the late Jacqueline Watson Harris who demonstrated clearly her faith and belief in God. She loved children and believed in each child’s innate ability to learn, however, she believed that the school, parents, community, and church must form a linkage and work together to help our children withstand and overcome the ills of society.”
Pictured: A portion of the Jacqueline Harris Preparatory Academy website.
Comments
35 Responses to “ACLU Targets ‘Unconstitutional’ Religious Behavior At Charter School”
I agree with Pete. Why does the ACLU worry about prayer in a charter school. Parents who are sending their children there are choosing to. It is not the only option available to them. If they do not believe in prayer or wish it to be a private thing, they can send their children to another school. According to statistics (The US Landscape Religion survey) 78.4% of Americans are Christians. 78.4% appears to be the majority.
Mr. Green, If you do not see difficult times right now, watch the news. I think you will change your mind.
The reason the ACLU does not stand up for Christians is because many of them do not believe in their religon that Christ was ever born. If you mention Christ to some people they will curse him and say “may his name be erased”.
Take the time to learn who the power brokers and policy makers are in the ACLU, who and what they are. Though they may serve their father and are of his lineage, Christ still welcomes them with open arms, if only they will go to him. Their pride as their fathers will not allow them, as they have his pride and nature, just as Christ accused them when he cleared them from the temple.
Pete,
Just applying your logic to other situations so that you might see it from a different perspective.
REGARDING:
“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. ”
Okay, now we’re getting somewhere. Explain how this applies.
Is it times of difficulty? I don’t see it.
Lovers of self? They seem to be trying to serve others.
Of money? They’re not asking for money.
Proud? Probably but no more than most.
Abusive? They seem to be trying to end an abuse of limiting personal religious freedom.
Disobedient? Their parents haven’t weighed in.
Ungrateful? Possibly, if so please explain how.
Unholy? Undoubtedly because they aren’t Christians, just as most people aren‘t.
Heartless? Not if they’re trying to do what they THINK helps others.
Unappeasable? They’ve spelled out what would satisfy them.
Slanderous? Nope, they haven’t bad-mouthed anybody.
Let’s drop down, they aren’t having the appearance of godliness, so that doesn’t apply.
So what DOES apply to this situation? At the time Paul was writing, the vast majority followed non Christian religions, lived for bribes, worshiped the leader as a god, had no public schools, killed Christians for sport.
As best I can tell, these folks believe worship should be a private thing, not dependent on the decision of the majority as you profess to prefer. From my reading of scripture, God wants people to worship him with their hearts, not just their lips. Any worship by constraint is against His will.
But I could be wrong, so please expound further.
David still wondering
Mr. Green, there are several references in the Bible.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 ESV / 2 helpful votes
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.
Ben, no where in my comments is mentioned racism. The only mention I made was regarding groups that are continually challenging Christian values or the morals of the majority instead of the minority. As far as a charter school goes, Nothing was mentioned about all white schools. Why would you come to this conclusion? Do you have racial feelings?
I’m assuming you would have no problem with an all-white charter school. As long as the parents CHOOSE to send their kids there, there’s no problem, right?
If they have a problem with racism, enroll your child somewhere else.
REGARDING:
“parents who do not want their children subjected to religion can send them to the school in their district. The Bible tells that what is happening is what will happen. ”
I accept that you are more knowledgeable than I am, but please cite book, chapter and verse for that scripture.
David seeking enlightenment
not wanting to add or take away
The ACLU, The NAACP and all of the other groups that jump on anything to cause our Nation to sink deeper in the gutter should be imprisoned. Personally I wonder why the ACLU is not standing up for the poor Christians who are only trying to express their right to Freedom of Religion as our Constitution guarantees. Why are they only worried about muslims? This is a Charter School. Even though it is funded federally parents who do not want their children subjected to religion can send them to the school in their district. The Bible tells that what is happening is what will happen. Maybe a little prayer would help children to gain some respect for others and some self respect.
This is a charter school that parents CHOOSE to enroll their children in. They are well aware of the curriculum chosen by the school administration before the apply. My mother has been a teacher there for years and I have volunteered there myself. This school is amazing and their administrator strives for these children to be able to overcome the stereotypes that have been set upon them. If they have a problem with religion being taught, enroll your child somewhere else.
Jane, you seem to be missing several points.
PCA is a private school. No tax dollars. Parents pay to put their children there.
You can be as religious as you want on your own dime.
So what about all these schools like PCA? And why is prayer a bad thing? Our country’s pledge of allegence says “one country, under God”…….I suppose they don’t like that either, but that is what our USA was founded on by the founding fathers.
You can’t erase history. The ACLU needs to butt out . All should be thankful that someone cares enough to “promote God” to these kids. We are supposedly a democratic society but some loud mouths disregard the majority’s wishes and want to promote their own wishes just so they can get some attention. I see this type as weak and cowardly.
Just remember people, your children remember what YOU teach them and when they’re at school or wherever , they can pray and talk about God amongst themselves and the ACLU can’t do anything about it. BAM!
Kathy…this Baptist would have no problem with Catholic beliefs or any other dogma being discussed in school. My children will be taught my beliefs but I certainly want them knowledgable of other denominations.
This is how the end of ancient Rome looked.
Except we have way more debt.
Keep letting the lib-tards run it ,how is that working out?
First, even among Christians there are differences in what we believe and what beliefs we want taught to our children. Second, we share this world with people of many religions. Third, public school teachers are not generally trained to teach religion, so what they ‘teach’ may really just be their own beliefs even if they are well intentioned. Parents who want their children to receive a Christian education need to send their children to a Christian school.
REGARDING:
“That is why you don’t let religion enter the classroom. It has to be secular ”
Depending on how you mean it.
The classroom is not to establish a religion if paid for with tax dollars.
That does not mean the individuals are forbidden to say what they believe.
The statement that Jacqueline Harris believed a certain way should not be a problem.
Instructing people to pray would be a problem.
And
“ this assault on church is not the original intent. The capital building was used as a church.
It is not an assault on church to not use public buildings for churches. It IS an establishment of religion TO use public buildings for churches. Even if Congress did so, that doesn’t mean it is Constitutional because Congress does not always follow the Constitution.
“Thomas Jefferson said that there should be three staples to education , academics, morality, and religion, how far we have strayed.”
Thomas Jefferson was a wonderful man. He was also ONE man. And not everything he wrote wound up in the Constitution. For instance, he considered the apostle, John, to be a madman. That opinion is not established in law, nor can it be.
Further, other Founding Fathers had different ideas about such matters. Some DID want to establish the Church of England as the official church. I’m glad they didn’t.
We go by the Constitution as amended and as interpreted by our Supreme Court.
Also, let us not forget the Constitution was further amended by the people after the deaths of the Founding Fathers. I often doubt they realized what they were doing, but it is what is in writing and approved by the people that counts.
David for truth
Ah Dah, if a person in the classroom complains and the parents are upset it is a problem . There are many Christian religions especially out here in the wild northwest. Many of you would cringe to have Catholicism taught in your classroom just as a primitive baptist would cringe or a Catholic cringe when some one taught some these way out religions. That is why you don’t let religion enter the classroom. It has to be secular or everyone’s religious beliefs are violated. Ignorance breeds ignorance.
God is not threatened by the ACLU or by anyone who takes offense to those who serve Him. People of other religions SHOULD have the same freedom of expression and speech, bring it on. Let God be God, He is more than able to back it up!
David, in the founding fathers writings they were clear that they did not want congress to set the religion for the people [ such as the church of England ] this assault on church is not the original intent. The capital building was used as a church. To me this is prohibiting the free exercise thereof. Thomas Jefferson said that there should be three staples to education , academics, morality, and religion, how far we have strayed.
eeyore, maybe you can point me in the right direction and tell me where in the Constitution it says that you can not mention God or even worship God in a public facility !
ANSWERING:
“Can someone tell me where in the Constitution I can find this to be unconstitutional behavior !?”
First Amendment:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; – - -”
Fourteenth Amendment:
“- – - No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
The First states that Congress is not allow to establish a religion. The Fourteenth says the states can’t do it either. Publicly funded charter schools are agents of the state, therefore they are also prohibited by the Constitution to establish a religion.
Further, the Constitution says the Supreme Court is supreme in interpretation and that is what they have said it says. They can’t be wrong, therefore that is what it means.
(By the way, most of you wouldn’t want your taxes going toward promoting religions with which you disagree. It would be unChristian to treat others the same way, forcing them to accept your religion. It wouldn’t be un all religions but most of us reject THOSE religions.)
David answering question asked
Unknown to most people, high on the communist longterm agenda is tweaking and tweaking until good things, like religion, become bad things like “Unconstitutional religious behavior”. The ACLU has become an enemy of our country. Like cattle to the slaughter. How sad…
The thing is if you let this school preach Christianity then you have to let every public school preach whatever religion they choose. Next thing you know someone opens a new public school that teaches Voodoo. See how that works? If you let them teach one religion you have to let them teach all religions!
You know, if there wasn’t something behind the whole “God” thing, the ACLU wouldn’t be so scared! Think about it.
No one forces anyone to go to a certain school. If something is going on at a school a parent doesn’t like, they can take their child elsewhere. If you work at a place that you “think” promotes religion and you don’t like it….FIND another job!
Why can’t ADULTS stand up and take action for themselves and instead of sending in their little gripes and complaints to someone else?
To all people not of christian faith. This country was founded on religious belliefs. Every federal building in Washington D.C. has something from the Bible on the building. No one forces religion on anyone, but if the federal buildings can display the Ten Commandments, I can state my beliefs anytime, and anywhere I so choose.
…sighs! apparently people do not understand that a “charter school” is not a private school…a charter school is a publically funded school…
First, I had to look up the word ‘proselytize’ since I had never heard it before, I’m not sure how or what these employees are doing to “force or change the children’s religious beliefs” in the school, but just having the belief of the namesake on the sign seems no threat, and if parents don’t like it, they do not have to send their child to this school, it is a Charter School, which is an alternate CHOICE for parents, they have other schools to attend in the district. Sickens me that we are losing our Freedom of Religion…..Look-out,,,, soon we will be shot for saying God in public, without the word dam_ behind it……
““They sponsor prayer at various school events and generally proselytize students during classes and other school-sponsored events and activities”
Which is fine if its a private school and doesn’t take government money. But if it takes government money then it has to be neutral and can’t promote religion.
Its either one way or the other, and i hate those that complain about “freedom of speech” you have it, just don’t take government tax payer money and you can promote the worship of any god you like
Can someone tell me where in the Constitution I can find this to be unconstitutional behavior !?
Ms Watson has served her master well, I hope he greets her warmly, after Christ judges her and the rest of us on the day of judgment.
Kathy the ACLU does not protect us, it works to change us from the Strong Christian Nation we were, to what we have become, growing worse everyday.
Actually, the questions remains “why do so many organizations and public interest behave in such a manner as to cause complaint to the ACLU and other organizations that are here to protect your rights as a citizen of the United States of America?
There goes the ACLU stirring up trouble again. How can one group start so many problems?
Love how the say religious “behavior”.Expressing your religious beliefs and telling of someones love for God is apparantly bad behavior.You behave now!The ACLU needs to be stopped.Things are getting ridiculous.Its freedom OF religion not freedom FROM religion
…people here never ceases to amaze me about hypocracy…oh its ok for me to shove my religious beliefs down other peoples throats but dont you dare do that to me with your religion…i just wonder how many “christians” would be upset if another religion promoted its messages were used at this school to its students? at public cost? that is the problem with most people who are deeply religious…they dont see whats right and wrong because of their own distorted view of what is acceptable and what is not acceptable…are ingrained into their minds from the churches they attend…