{"id":163,"date":"2009-04-28T11:42:12","date_gmt":"2009-04-28T11:42:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/lynnvsekulow\/2009\/04\/dont-ban-student-religious-spe.html"},"modified":"2009-04-28T11:42:12","modified_gmt":"2009-04-28T11:42:12","slug":"dont-ban-student-religious-spe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/lynnvsekulow\/2009\/04\/dont-ban-student-religious-spe.html","title":{"rendered":"Don’t Ban Student Religious Speech at Graduations"},"content":{"rendered":"

Barry, I think the one thing we can agree on is that as long as graduation ceremonies take place across the country, there will be questions – concerns – and ongoing debate about what’s proper and what it not.<\/font><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>What I don’t understand is why some public school officials find it necessary to censor student religious speech – even at graduation.<\/font><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>Even as I write this, we’re working with the parent of an 8th grade student in California who auditioned to perform a tap dance number at her graduation ceremony that will take place in a few weeks. The graduation committee was impressed by her dance and invited her to perform at the ceremony, but they told her that she had to change her song selection or use an instrumental version with no words. The reason? The song mentions God.<\/font><\/font><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

We’re working to resolve this matter on behalf of the student and aren’t in a position to disclose more details, but it’s important to point out that students do not lose their freedom of speech at graduation ceremonies. The same principles apply to this situation as to <\/span><\/span>religious content within speeches given by valedictorians and salutatorians. Guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Education in 2003 state that, “Where students or other private graduation speakers are selected on the basis of genuinely neutral, evenhanded criteria and retain primary control over the content of their expression, . . . that expression is not attributable to the school and therefore may not be restricted because of its religious (or anti-religious) content.” <\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/font><\/p>\n

While the Guidelines declare that a school may “make appropriate, neutral disclaimers to clarify that such speech (whether religious or nonreligious) is the speaker’s and not the school’s” – schools cannot simply ban any and all references to God in student expression at graduations. Student artistic performances and speeches should be reasonably understood as the student’s own expression<\/i> rather than speech endorsed by the school. Students should be able to share how their faith has impacted their lives without fear of censorship by school officials. Such student expression is clearly distinguishable from the kind of school-endorsed official prayer struck down in Lee v. Weisman<\/i>, 505 U.S. 577 (1992).<\/font><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Barry, I am sure that you would agree that student performers and speakers should be free from censorship at their graduation ceremonies.<\/font><\/font><\/font><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n

To subscribe to “Lynn v. Sekulow” click <\/font>here<\/font><\/a>.<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/font><\/font><\/font> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Barry, I think the one thing we can agree on is that as long as graduation ceremonies take place across the country, there will be questions – concerns – and ongoing debate about what’s proper and what it not. What I don’t understand is why some public school officials find it necessary to censor student…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":163,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35,11,4,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-163","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-education","category-public-schools","category-religious-freedom","category-separation-of-church-and-state"],"yoast_head":"\nDon't Ban Student Religious Speech at Graduations - Lynn v. 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FEC, Sekulow ensured that the constitutional rights of young people remain protected with a unanimous decision by the high court guaranteeing that minors can participate in political campaigns. A nationally recognized and respected defender of religious freedom, Sekulow has assembled one of the most prestigious law firms in the nation.  Founded in 1990, the American Center for Law and Justice focuses in constitutional law.  The ACLJ, under Sekulow's direction, is involved in public interest and public policy issues working to protect religious and constitutional liberties. In 2007, the Chicago Tribune concluded that the ACLJ has \"led the way\" in Christian legal advocacy.  In 2005, TIME Magazine named Sekulow one of the \"25 Most Influential Evangelicals\" in America and called the ACLJ \"a powerful counterweight\" to the ACLU.  Business Week said the ACLJ is \"the leading advocacy group for religious freedom.\"  Sekulow's work on the issue of judicial nominees - including possible vacancies at the Supreme Court - has received extensive news coverage including a front page story in The Wall Street Journal.  In addition, The National Law Journal has twice named Sekulow one of the \"100 Most Influential Lawyers\" in the United States (1994, 1997).  He is also among a distinguished group of attorneys known as \"The Public Sector 45\" named by The American Lawyer (January\/February 1997).  The magazine said the designation represents \"45 young lawyers outside the private sector whose vision and commitment are changing lives.\" Sekulow brings insight and education to listeners daily with his national call-in radio program, Jay Sekulow Live!, which is broadcast throughout the country on nearly 850 radio stations.  Sekulow also hosts a weekly television program, ACLJ This Week, which tackles the tough issues of the day and is broadcast on a number of networks nationwide including the Trinity Broadcasting Network and FamilyNet.  Sekulow is also a popular guest on nationally televised news programs on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, FOX News, MSNBC, CNBC, and PBS.  He frequently contributes articles and commentary to national publications and is often quoted in the nation's leading newspapers including USA Today, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, and Washington Times. A graduate of Mercer University, Sekulow graduated cum laude receiving both a bachelor's degree and doctor of jurisprudence from Mercer University where he served on the Mercer Law Review as an editorial staff member.  Following graduation, Sekulow served as a tax trial attorney in the Office of Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue Service.  In that capacity, Sekulow prepared and brought to trial tax cases on behalf of the United States Department of Treasury in United States Tax Court. He also received a Ph.D. from Regent University, with a dissertation on American Legal History, and is the author of numerous publications and law articles. 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