It is encouraging to know that Christian Educators is intervening on behalf of teachers in Santa Rosa County School District and their religious rights in school. Please pray for Christian Educators and Liberty Counsel as they take on Goliath, the ACLU is fighting to keep CEAI out of this case. This court case has major implications for educator religious rights throughout the country. This case may be a watermark for Christians in public schools.

This case may open the avenue for the ACLU to explore limiting the rights of religion in schools for educators, students, and parents in schools throughout our great land. Kudos to Finn Laursen, Executive Director of CEAI, for making a stand against this formidable foe. The thousands of members of Christian Educators have been alerted to pray for this case through emails, newsletters, and mailings.

Let us know what you think about this case and a teachers religious rights in school. Comment on the case or be sure to show your support by praying.

Patti Puma, a parent with four children in the school district, approached Deputy Superintendent Dr. Thomas Neveldine about this new restriction. Dr. Neveldine told her that Santa Claus was no longer allowed on campus because he originated from the story about St. Nicholas. Thus, according to the Deputy Superintendent, nothing with any hint of Christianity is permissible to celebrate Christmas, even if the symbol has a decidedly secular meaning today.

On Monday, concerned parents and citizens will address the local school board. A growing group of parents are fighting against these ridiculous restrictions. A petition has been started that requests the return of Christmas celebrations. Dr. Neveldine can be reached by calling 315-434-3006.

Liberty Counsel has joined with Christian Educators Association International in the seventh annual Friend or Foe Christmas Campaign, a campaign that is designed to educate and, if necessary, litigate to make sure religious viewpoints regarding Christmas are not censored. Liberty Counsel has legal memos that address the law regarding this issue on its website at www.LC.org. Liberty Counsel also has its “Naughty & Nice” list, which overviews retailers that acknowledge Christmas and those that do not.

Mathew D. Staver, Founder of Liberty Counsel and Dean of Liberty University School of Law, commented: “Perhaps educators ought to check out the name of the holiday they enjoy on December 25. Wouldn’t someone with a little common sense understand its okay to celebrate both the secular and religious aspects of Christmas? Censoring only the religious viewpoint of Christmas, or pretending like Christmas does not exist, reveals hostility toward religion, which the Constitution forbids.”

Liberty Counsel represents CEAI. Under the order crafted by the ACLU, school officials are considered to be acting in their “official capacity” during a “school event.” At “school events,” “communication with a deity” is prohibited. “School officials” cannot even show agreement with anyone “communicating with a deity,” such as “bowing the head” or “folding hands.” “School officials” must also prohibit “third-parties” from praying.

Testimony revealed how this order has literally driven Christians to hide in closets to pray in order to avoid contempt charges. During her testimony, Michelle Winkler, a clerical assistant, broke down on the witness stand when she described how a coworker sought comfort from her after losing her two-year-old child. The two hid behind a closet door to pray, for fear they would be seen and held in contempt of the court order.

Denise Gibson, an elementary teacher for 20 years, testified that the order forces her to tell parents she cannot respond if they talk about church or their faith. She may not even respond to an email from a parent if it contains a Scripture verse or “God bless you.” Instead, the District requires her to open a separate email to respond rather than hit “reply,” in order to eliminate any trace of religious language.

Please pray that CEAI is successful in their court battle against the ACLU.

This Wednesday is See You at the Pole. Be sure to check out your local school and join them for prayer at their flag pole before school. Students around the country will be praying for their schools. Educators are permitted to participate as long it is not during the contracted hours. This is a perfect time for churches and communities to join together to lift up our schools in prayer.

See you at the Pole!

It is encouraging to see how Principal Lay and his AD were cleared of all charges. The legal battles are not over. On behalf of CEAI, Liberty Counsel had filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit filed last school year by the ACLU against the Santa Rosa County School District. The ACLU charged that some teachers and administrators were actively endorsing religion. The school district attempted to settle the suit by joining with the ACLU in a consent decree that essentially bans all employees from engaging in prayer or religious activities, whether before, during, or after school hours.

In an effort to seek relief from the consent decree CEAI was in front of Judge Rogers just two weeks ago. The ACLU and district attorneys tried to block our intervention, but the judge has kept the case alive and we are currently waiting for another court date to argue the unconstitutionality of the consent decree. Liberty Counsel will argue the case to give us a voice in this matter; a voice calling for the freedoms of the First Amendment to be restored!

Battle for Religious Freedom Continues in Florida Schools

“Another effort of the ACLU to sanitize public schools of religious expression has failed”, says Finn Laursen, Executive Director of Christian Educators Association International.
U. S. Judge Casey Rodgers found Pace High School Principal Frank Lay and Athletic Director Robert Freeman not guilty of criminal contempt Thursday , 9/17/09, after evidence failed to prove they willfully violated a temporary injunction that prohibited the promotion of religion in Santa Rosa County schools.
This criminal contempt issue began when the ACLU asked that Lay and Freeman be held in contempt for offering a prayer over a meal at a luncheon where they honored donors to the Athletic Field House Project.
Last month in the same court room Judge Rogers told Santa Rosa County School District employee and CEAI member Michele Winkler she would not be held in civil contempt for asking her husband to pray over a meal at a banquet off school grounds.
But the battle in Santa Rosa is not yet over.
On behalf of CEAI, Liberty Counsel had filed a motion to intervene in a lawsuit filed last school year by the ACLU against the Santa Rosa County School District. The ACLU charged that some teachers and administrators were actively endorsing religion. The school district attempted to settle the suit by joining with the ACLU in a consent decree that essentially bans all employees from engaging in prayer or religious activities, whether before, during, or after school hours.
In an effort to seek relief from the consent decree CEAI was in front of Judge Rogers just two weeks ago. The ACLU and district attorneys tried to block our intervention, but the judge has kept the case alive and we are currently waiting for another court date to argue the unconstitutionality of the consent decree. Liberty Counsel will argue the case to give us a voice in this matter; a voice calling for the freedoms of the First Amendment to be restored!
 

(Finn Laursen is the Executive Director of CEAI, est. 1953.
To interview Finn Laursen contact Doreen at 888-798-1124 or info@ceai.org)

I know first hand how the President’s message stirred controversy in schools and communities; however, I was pleased with the President’s positive message to students about the importance of hard work, overcoming failure, perseverance, believing in themselves, family, and the critical importance to success in school.

As the President came to the podium, the class that I was in erupted into applause. It appeared to me that the students felt special having the President of the United States address them during “Prime Time” for school students.

Whether you are a fan of the President or not, the message that he presented was one that parents all over this great land try to instill in their children that hard work, responsibility, good decision making, and staying in school are critical to success in life. Yeah, I wasn’t a fan of the lesson plans that the White House put out, but I still believe that our students should listen to the President.

I applaud the President for his message to students; we can never have enough positive and hopeful messages to students. Whether it is the President of the United States of America, a soccer coach, a teacher, a police officer, a pastor, or most importantly a mom and dad, we need to join together to send a positive, hopeful, and loving message to our students on the importance of education.