On The Front Lines
Rutherford Institute Succeeds in Protecting Right of Kentucky Students to Pray Around School Flagpole, Participate in See You At The Pole
FLOYD COUNTY, Ky. -- Attorneys for The Rutherford Institute have succeeded in protecting the right of students in Floyd County, Kentucky, to hold a "See You at the Pole" rally this Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2006, at their school flagpole. The Institute was contacted for help after administrators at South Floyd High School failed to approve a request by some students to hold a SYATP rally at their school flagpole.
In a Sept. 22 letter to officials at South Floyd High School, Institute attorneys explained that the students' participation in SYATP is considered protected speech under the First Amendment. Institute attorneys also pointed out that the rally is permissible under the school district's policies. In response, school administrators have given assurances that students will be allowed to hold the SYATP rally this year. Guidelines on SYATP, as well as information about religious expression and access issues in public schools, are available online here. Individuals with legal questions or in need of legal assistance relating to their right to participate in SYATP should call (434) 978-3888 or email staff@rutherford.org.
"It's important that students, teachers and others know about their right to participate in See You at the Pole events--a right affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court," said John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute. "The rallies are part of a long tradition of free and equal participation in expressive activities guaranteed by our Constitution."
John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute, has called on public school administrators to respect the right of students and faculty to gather prior to the start of the school day and participate in their local "See You at the Pole" events on September 27, 2006. SYATP is a student-initiated and student-led movement that revolves around students praying together for their school, friends, teachers, government and their nation on the third Wednesday of September, usually before school and usually at the school's flagpole.
Rutherford Institute attorneys have successfully defended the free speech and religious rights of individuals to participate in SYATP events. For example, in years past, Institute attorneys protected the right of a Fellowship of Christian Athletes student group in Kansas to advertise the See You at the Pole event on school bulletin boards. School administrators had prohibited the group from putting up posters, citing the posters' religious content.
In Shoreline, Wash., high school officials prohibited a student from distributing information about SYATP. After Institute legal staff informed school officials of the student's rights, they quickly reversed their decision and allowed her to distribute the flyers.
In California, high school officials informed a youth pastor that he would not be allowed to attend SYATP at their campus unless he underwent a tuberculosis test and criminal background check. After Institute legal staff pointed out that testing and background checks are only mandatory for school employees and volunteers, school officials relented and allowed the youth pastor to attend the event.
In Texas, school officials refused to allow high school teachers to attend the SYATP rally. After being alerted to possible legal action by The Rutherford Institute, school officials opted to respect the teachers' constitutional rights.
