In Response to Kasey Klipsch's 1st Amendment Violated

It appears public schools are not "educating" when students believe that our First Amendment prohibits "religion" in our schools. According to Government in America by Richard J. Hardy, (the school board chosen Social Studies Text for this year) the First Amendment "protects citizens from government interference with their freedoms of religion, speech, ..." Our country was founded on our beliefs in freedom of religion, NOT on the prohibition of religious expression. Our students should be graduating not only with literacy, knowledge and logic, but also with a respect and understanding of various cultures and beliefs.

This cannot be attained by self-imposed censorship of religious freedom. The federal appeals court ruling in Florey v. Sioux Falls School District permits the singing of Christmas carols and the education of the religious holiday in public schools. This does not violate the free exercise clause of the First Amendment. The Supreme Court acknowledges that the Congress has proclaimed both Christmas and Thanksgiving to be National Holidays in religious terms. Thus, it is clear that Government has long recognized holidays with religious significance. (Lynch v. Donnelly, 465 US 676)

Contrary to an article in your last issue, Jefferson and Madison vigorously fought FOR religious freedom in the 1786 Virginia Statute of Religious Liberty which stated that no man "shall otherwise suffer on account of his religious opinions or beliefs; but that all men shall be free to profess and by arguement to maintain, their opinion in matters of religion..." Our founding fathers consistently acknowledged the existence of God. It is quite clear they intended to protect religion from government -- NOT the other way around.

It is an insult to the American education system when students feel they cannot "honor those contributions by following cherished traditions." (Dan Quayle) Fortunately, my daughters attend an American public school. Thus, they CAN freely honor both their Native American heritage/culture and their Christian traditions/beliefs in their educational setting. They are guaranteed that freedom in their country's Constitution.

God Bless America!

This is a subject very dear to my heart. Please feel free to copy this article and give to your school officials. It helped us keep our freedom of choice and religion in our schools that year.