See You at the Pole

In recognition of the upcoming nationwide See You at the Pole(TM) event this year on Wednesday, September 24, I have written a crucial online bulletin regarding students' rights ... and the public schools' responsibility to acknowledge those rights.

See You at the Pole(TM) is an annual, student-led, student-initiated movement of prayer. Students of faith across the nation gather with like-minded peers around the flagpoles of their schools before classes begin and pray for their campuses, 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. In fact, what many do not realize is that 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. Please feel free to share this online 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.

Click here to learn more about your student's free speech rights on public school campuses, particularly the right to engage in religious expression at See You At The Pole(TM) events on September 24.

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, please contact an attorney or the ACLJ for assistance.

Thank you!

American Center for Law and Justice

P.O. Box 90555

Washington, D.C. 20090-0555

Phone: (800) 296-4529

Copyright©2008, ACLJ