4 Feb 2011
Virginia school board votes to return Ten Commandments to classrooms despite Supreme Court ruling it is unconstitutional
Secular News Daily - January 20, 2011
Virginia school board votes to put Ten Commandments back in county schools
Press Release by Freedom From Religion Foundation
The Giles County School Board, unbelievably, voted 5 to 0 this afternoon to return Ten Commandment postings to school walls. The Board overruled a responsible decision by its superintendent to remove unlawful postings of the Ten Commandments from county schools, following an FFRF complaint. (See the superintendent’s response to FFRF HERE.)
"It is so disheartening to see public officials in Virginia — the state that produced Madison and Jefferson — directly flout the law and violate the constitutionally required separation between religion and government," said Annie Laurie Gaylor, Foundation co-president.
The Supreme Court explicitly ruled in Stone v. Graham (1980), against schoolroom postings of the Ten Commandments: "The pre-eminent purpose for posting the Ten Commandments on schoolroom walls is plainly religious in nature."
Following FFRF attorney Patrick Elliott’s letter of Dec. 8, 2010 about a display at Macy McClaugherty School in Pearisburg, Va., Superintendent Terry E. Arbogast, II, replied, saying the display would be removed. The superintendent also removed Ten Commandments displays from other Giles County schools, and replaced them with copies of the Declaration of Independence.
"This was such a rational outcome, and it is shocking to learn what this rogue school board has done," Gaylor said.
Gaylor invites any parents with children in the public schools in Giles County who might consider serving as plaintiffs to contact FFRF at 608/256-8900 or info@ffrf.org. Gaylor said the group would seek a protective order to protect the identify of families involved. But she added: "When the Supreme Court has spoken directly to this violation, it should not be necessary to keep fighting the same battle!"
Complain!
Note: A short message is adequate. Use your own words, or paste in this statement:
"I commend Superintendent Arbogast for respecting the law and the rights of conscience of schoolchildren. Shame on the Giles County School Board for flouting clear Supreme Court precedent! A school board should not be teaching disrespect for the Constitution. Religious dogma and doctrine do not belong on schoolhouse walls."
We are pleased to receive copies of your messages and correspondence by e-mail at action@ffrf.org.
CONTACT
Giles County Public School Board
151 School Road
Pearisburg VA 24134
Phone: 540-921-1421, Ext. 10
Fax: (540) 921-1424
To e-mail the entire board: atickle@gilesk12.org
Please send a thank you to Superintendent Abrogast for holding firm:
Dr. Terry Abrogast, II
Superintendent
E-Mail: tarbogast@gilesk12.org
RECENT NEWS COVERAGE
Giles County School Board votes to put the Ten Commandments back up
http://www.wdbj7.com/news/wdbj-removal-of-the-ten-commandment-01202011,0,6946882.story
Giles Co. board votes to return Ten Commandments to schools
http://www.roanoke.com/news/breaking/wb/274387
Related articles on Secualr News Daily:
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This article was found at:
http://www.secularnewsdaily.com/2011/01/20/virginia-school-board-votes-to-put-ten-commandments-back-in-county-schools/
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Virginia school board votes to put Ten Commandments back in county schools
Press Release by Freedom From Religion Foundation
The Giles County School Board, unbelievably, voted 5 to 0 this afternoon to return Ten Commandment postings to school walls. The Board overruled a responsible decision by its superintendent to remove unlawful postings of the Ten Commandments from county schools, following an FFRF complaint. (See the superintendent’s response to FFRF HERE.)
"It is so disheartening to see public officials in Virginia — the state that produced Madison and Jefferson — directly flout the law and violate the constitutionally required separation between religion and government," said Annie Laurie Gaylor, Foundation co-president.
The Supreme Court explicitly ruled in Stone v. Graham (1980), against schoolroom postings of the Ten Commandments: "The pre-eminent purpose for posting the Ten Commandments on schoolroom walls is plainly religious in nature."
Following FFRF attorney Patrick Elliott’s letter of Dec. 8, 2010 about a display at Macy McClaugherty School in Pearisburg, Va., Superintendent Terry E. Arbogast, II, replied, saying the display would be removed. The superintendent also removed Ten Commandments displays from other Giles County schools, and replaced them with copies of the Declaration of Independence.
"This was such a rational outcome, and it is shocking to learn what this rogue school board has done," Gaylor said.
Gaylor invites any parents with children in the public schools in Giles County who might consider serving as plaintiffs to contact FFRF at 608/256-8900 or info@ffrf.org. Gaylor said the group would seek a protective order to protect the identify of families involved. But she added: "When the Supreme Court has spoken directly to this violation, it should not be necessary to keep fighting the same battle!"
Complain!
Note: A short message is adequate. Use your own words, or paste in this statement:
"I commend Superintendent Arbogast for respecting the law and the rights of conscience of schoolchildren. Shame on the Giles County School Board for flouting clear Supreme Court precedent! A school board should not be teaching disrespect for the Constitution. Religious dogma and doctrine do not belong on schoolhouse walls."
We are pleased to receive copies of your messages and correspondence by e-mail at action@ffrf.org.
CONTACT
Giles County Public School Board
151 School Road
Pearisburg VA 24134
Phone: 540-921-1421, Ext. 10
Fax: (540) 921-1424
To e-mail the entire board: atickle@gilesk12.org
Please send a thank you to Superintendent Abrogast for holding firm:
Dr. Terry Abrogast, II
Superintendent
E-Mail: tarbogast@gilesk12.org
RECENT NEWS COVERAGE
Giles County School Board votes to put the Ten Commandments back up
http://www.wdbj7.com/news/wdbj-removal-of-the-ten-commandment-01202011,0,6946882.story
Giles Co. board votes to return Ten Commandments to schools
http://www.roanoke.com/news/breaking/wb/274387
Related articles on Secualr News Daily:
Enfield school board votes not to seek injunction against 'in-church graduation' decision
School will stop illegal loudspeaker prayers
School Board To Discuss Appeal Of Graduations Ruling
Conn. school board revotes on church graduation
Virginia Baptists condemn Texas Board of Ed revisionist history
This article was found at:
http://www.secularnewsdaily.com/2011/01/20/virginia-school-board-votes-to-put-ten-commandments-back-in-county-schools/
RELATED ARTICLES ON THIS BLOG:
UK theology think tank says it is wrong to exclude God from classroom, superstition and reason should be equal partners
Nebraska education administrators get mixed messages from lawyers on legality of promoting religion in schools
Does religion have any proper role in education?
Strong Secularism: "Religious education can be a form of mental abuse."
What can humanist parents use in the battle against religious indoctrination?
Groups call on British government to replace compulsory collective worship in schools with inclusive assemblies
Former governor of church school in UK now says state-funded faith schools are immoral
New Richard Dawkins documentary argues for the abolition of faith schools as a menace to children and society
British humanist campaign challenges state-funded religious schools
British government amends education bill to allow faith schools to adapt law according to dogma
U.K. school inspectors report that Christian theology and non-religious beliefs not being adequately taught in compulsory religious education classes
Faith schools that indoctrinate children commit child abuse
Intellectual abuse and suppression of simple childhood pleasures by Islamic fundamentalists common in U.K.
Faith schools ‘will hinder fight against terrorism’
Majority of people in the UK say faith schools divisive
Religious sect takes over school
Parental rights vs children's rights: debating the role of religious institutions in Irish education system
Irish children subjected to religious dogma in order to get an education in school system dominated by Catholic church
Parental rights vs children's rights: debating the role of religious institutions in Irish education system
European Court of Human Rights rules crucifixes in Italian schools violates children's religious freedom to believe or not
German teen expelled from government funded Catholic school after exercising her human right to religious freedom
Haifa District Court denies parents' request to send children to secular school instead of orthodox school
Waldorf teaching method not a religion says U.S. federal judge even though founder based philosophy on belief in Lucifer
Vacation Liberty School uses Christian fundamentalism to politically indoctrinate children
Federal Court of Appeal asked to stop California college proselytizing and imposing religion on students
Advocacy group battles illegal Christian fundamentalist proselytizing in U.S. public schools
Fundamentalist Christian 'punk' band uses deception to evangelize and indoctrinate in U.S. schools
Radical Christian extremists aim to undermine public education by targeting high school kids for indoctrination into fundamentalist worldview
Christian fundamentalist boot-camp for kids indoctrinates them to fight 'bloody' religious war
Hearing for Ohio science teacher sacked for evangelizing and teaching anti-science shows great divide in U.S. society
Child Evangelism Fellowship complains it is banned from converting children in public housing project
Catholic parents upset that teen son was peer-pressured into baptism in Baptist church while on school trip
Church of England's proselytising plans will target children for recruitment and indoctrination
David Lynch Foundation infiltrating schools world-wide to promote Transcendental Meditation
'Spirituality for Kids' class draws fire
Scientology's African evangelism targets children for indoctrination, opens new 'school' in Ghana
Scientology Recruiting Children in South Africa
School unaware of link to Scientologists
Scientology link at Montessori school alarms parents
Dahn Yoga uses common cult recruitment tactic of targeting children for surreptitious indoctrination
Dahn Yoga cult infiltrates 300 U.S. schools with unproven brain education exercises
B.C. Education Minister defends a ministry publication that identifies a Scientology website as a potential resource for teachers
Religious indoctrination thrives in B.C. private schools because education ministry does not vet textbooks or courses
Does religion have any proper role in education?
The dangers of creationism in education
Atheist group files complaint with B.C. Ministry of Education over Christian school teaching creationism in science class
Bob Jones University science textbook for home schoolers ignores science and critical thinking
New Hampshire court orders home-schooled Christian girl to attend a public school
Home schooling 'could be a cover for child abuse and sexual exploitation'
Get tough on home-schooling to weed out abuse, says UK review
Home school custody battle turns on religious freedom
German family seeks US asylum to homeschool kids
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