School coach violated religion ban in prayer ritual: US court

[Breeze54]

School coach violated religion ban in prayer ritual: US court

http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jpGMFiaAolSMAoozHAw8WBT6P4qg

WASHINGTON (AFP) — A football coach violated a ban on teaching religion in public schools when he joined his players in kneeling and head-bowing rituals before games, a US appeals court ruled Tuesday.

The decision could have national implications and may ultimately affect thousands of schools throughout the United States, many of which are believed to employ coaches who engage in prayer with their teams.

Marcus Borden, a Spanish teacher and coach since 1983 at East Brunswick High School in the eastern state of New Jersey, routinely joined in prayers at team meals and invited his players to drop to one knee in a silent locker-room prayer before kick-off.

In 2005 some parents complained of what they saw as Borden introducing religion into the public school system -- an act banned by the US Constitution which calls for the separation of church and state.

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ruled that Borden's extensive involvement with the team's prayers violated the Establishment clause of the Constitution's First Amendment.

"When viewing the acts in light of Borden's 23 years of prior prayer activities with the East Brunswick High School football team during which he organized, participated in, and even led prayer activities with his team, a reasonable observer would conclude that Borden was endorsing religion when he engaged in these acts," the court said in a statement.

Following the parent complaints in 2005, the school ordered that students be allowed to retain their constitutional rights to pray, but that teachers could not participate.

Borden reportedly had earlier sued the school district for his right to silently join his players in the pre-game ritual. In July 2006 a judge upheld Borden's right to do so, but the appeals court annuled the decision.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

1. Excellent decision. Thank you for posting!

[Breeze54]

2. No problem. Others need to know this behavior violates the Constitution.

"introducing religion into the public school system - an act banned

by the US Constitution which calls for the separation of church and state."

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

3. Not only is it illegal, it is harmful to children who do not have the same beliefs.

Before the ban on school prayer, I went to a public school that opened all of their assemblies with The Lord's Prayer. Never being a Christian, it made me feel like an outsider. Not a great feeling for a young child.

[Breeze54]

4. I agree...

They shouldn't be trying to influence young minds with their agenda/doctrine.

They make other kids feel alienated and all the kids will pick up on that.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

5. What also disturbs me is the mindset of the teacher/coach. Wouldn't

you think someone who molds young minds should know better? Then you have the school district supporting his illegal activity, taking this to the courts. What does that say about their respect for our Constitution?

:shrug:

[Breeze54]

6. The laws don't apply to fundies, didn't you know?

:sarcasm:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

7. lol! You have to realize that even with the elementary school that I went to,

I don't think I have known one fundy in my life here in NY. I did hear of a couple in my kid's elementary school. An art teacher who refused to have the kids do Halloween art and one child whose parents wouldn't allow her to participate in birthday parties and a few of the school's celebrations. They must have quivered and quaked about the annual Halloween Carnival!

Boy, did I love working on creating the Haunted House!

[Breeze54]

8. Oh, I do realize... I had a school principle doing prayers before

assembly's at my son's elementary school and I complained about it.

I went to one and he asked that all bow thier heads and join him. :eyes:

It seems a lot of these RWers want to try to slip it in, willynilly.

That totally pisses me off. I'll handle my kids religious education myself.

I don't need any teachers trying to influence my kids with their beliefs.

If I wanted that, I would have sent them to a religious school.