See You at the Pole - September 26, 2007

See You at the Pole is coming up! Young people, represent your faith and your youth group. Show up early at your school to pray for our nation and our leaders. Find out if a group is gathering and join them. If not, spread the word to your Christian friends (you do have Christian friends don't you). This could also be a chance to share the gospel with your Non-Christian friends. Invite them to join you at the flag pole.

"If any of you are embarrassed over me and the way I'm leading you when
you get around your fickle and unfocused friends, know that you'll be an even
greater embarrassment to the Son of Man when he arrives in all the splendor of
God, his Father, with an army of the holy angels."

(Mark 8:38 The Message)

This was sent to me by the American Center of Law and Justice:

One of the most significant - and highly contested - rights in our country today is the right to pray.

Unfortunately, attempts to squelch public expressions of faith have spread from the courtrooms of our nation to its classrooms.

As concerned parents, grandparents, school teachers, and church leaders, the most important step you can take right now is to know your student's rights before he or she sets foot on a public school campus.

In fact, what many do not realize is this: Prayer is a protected form of speech that cannot be banned by school officials when it is being offered in a manner such as See You At The Pole (TM). A school official who refuses to allow students the right to pray on their campus is engaging in censorship.

In recognition of the upcoming nationwide See You at the Pole event this year on September 26, I have pulled together a critical and informative online bulletin regarding students' rights ... and the public schools' responsibility to acknowledge those rights. Please feel free to share this bulletin with local school administrators - including principals, board members, and teachers - to advise them on the current state of the law.

It is imperative that local school officials be informed in order to avoid violating the First Amendment rights of students and others. See You At The Pole and the National Day of Prayer are student events - not organized or conducted by school administrators or officials. Students of faith across the nation annually gather with like-minded peers around the flagpole at their respective schools before classes begin and pray for their schools, teachers, administrators, and country.

It is their First Amendment guaranteed religious right to participate in such an activity ... and it is a bold expression of their faith that should be highly encouraged.

Learn more about student free speech rights on public school campuses - particularly the right to engage in religious expression at See You At The Pole events on September 26.

And please keep in mind:

This bulletin is for informational purposes only and is not intended as legal advice. If you are in need of legal counsel regarding a specific situation, you should contact an attorney or the ACLJ for assistance.

Thank you!