Church service required to get a high school diploma
Categories: Teens & tweens, Education, Religion & spirituality
Not once, not twice, but three times principal Richard Lopez sent out a notice stating that attendance at a baccalaureate service was mandatory for graduating seniors at Robertson High School in Las Vegas, New Mexico. For those not familiar with a baccalaureate (I wasn't), it is, according to wikipedia, an "event which features a speech or series of speeches given to a graduating senior class from a college or high school."So what's the big deal, you ask? Wikipedia adds that "the speeches are often, but not necessarily, of a religious nature, almost invariably Christian." Given that the ceremony was to be held at Immaculate Conception Church and that an optional "senior mass" was also promoted in the notices, I suspect the event was indeed of a religious nature. I'll also mention that Robertson is a public high school, supposedly unaffiliated with Immaculate Conception or any other church.
The principal claims that attendance was actually optional and that students could avoid the requirement just by having a chat with him, but he seems to be the only one that knew that, what with the notices saying it was mandatory and all. Even if the event wasn't mandatory, however, the school still isn't off the hook.
"Mandatory or not, the school government in this case was taking on the role of a church and the mere fact that it had so entangled itself with this ceremony means that it was endorsing a particular religious belief," says Peter Simonson, head of the American Civil Liberties Union in New Mexico. "So even if the school had not advertised the event as mandatory, they wildly overstepped their bounds."
Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Public Education Department noted that the law in New Mexico says that students and teachers cannot "be required to attend or participate in any religious service whatsoever." The state is planning to investigate the situation.
I suppose that the principal thought this was perfectly okay since the majority of his students are probably Catholic and the rest of them, heathens and terrorists all, really don't matter. Except that that's against the rules.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
speedymac 6-01-2008 @ 3:16AM
When I graduated hugh school we were told the same thing. So, I went. What is wrong with that? It's one day. If I were told I had to goto church to get my Diploma I Would. That one word Diploma has a number of meanings, like becoming an adult. And going to an event like that is showing that you are an adult. Becuase life is not fair. No matter who you are. So, I say goto the event. What's one day out of your busy life.
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ninainindia 6-01-2008 @ 6:48AM
Does that mean that if this ceremony was to honor Allah or acknowledging that the students did this on their own without God you would feel the same way?
I do understand what your saying, sometimes in life you have to do things you don't agree with but in this case I don't think it applies. This is just to specific, having to honor something you don't believe in, knowing it and having to be there just to get your diploma, sounds like they are trying to win souls over.
pbhj 6-01-2008 @ 8:25PM
All the article says is it's being held in a church building and that talks (presumably from important local people) would be given.
The linked wikipedia article says that such events have talks which are often religious (shock, some people are religious!) and may even be Christian (double shock!).
In the 2001 US census figures 160 Million, out of 208 Million (that's roughly 75%) described themselves as Christian. Now if people are giving talks about what inspired them as high-school graduates, wouldn't you expect maybe some might mention their faith.
Others will mention friends and family. I guess that isn't fair either as some people don't have those.
If one of the speakers is Muslim and doesn't mention Allah or Mohammed then you'd be equally surprised.
In any case, all evidence points to this being just an occassion that happens to be held at a church building; see http://www.lcni5.com/cgi-bin/storyviewx.cgi?080+FeaturesArts.2008530-167-080-080031.Full+FeaturesArts a review by a student, quote:
"What is baccalaureate”? The only response that came up was “some inspirational talk.” Why are any of these rituals necessary? "
teacherjpm 6-01-2008 @ 6:27AM
The baccalaureate service has, in our area, kind of fallen out of 'fashion', which is unfortuate for those that would like to publically acknowledge that a high power had a hand in helping them get that diploma. 6 years ago my daughter participated in an optional, ecumemical service prior to her graduation. Perhaps 45 out of 135 students attended. That was not important, however. What was for those 45 is that they were able to thank that higher power (whomever they believed in) for the diploma!
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ARJ 6-01-2008 @ 11:49AM
Fourteen years ago, my public high school graduation was held at a Baptist church! I'm pretty sure it still is. The most I can figure is that they assume the small Southern town in which it is located is so homogenous religiously that no one will complain. Their luck has held so far, but that doesn't make it right.
It teaches and reinforces the small-minded idea that there is only one way to see and interpret the world. For those who never leave the comfort zone of that town, perhaps such ideas seem superflous, but there's a diverse world out there and many of those students took their first steps into it shortly after graduation. Whether they viewed their new experiences as exhilerating or threatening was in may ways influenced by school. And a public school that flagrantly chooses to ignore separation between church and state, is truly doing those students a disservice. Rambling....will stop now.
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pbhj 6-01-2008 @ 8:48PM
It was held at a church, check, did you have to take part in a religious ceremony though? If others were being religious, could you, y'know just choose not to be?
1st amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion"
The point is that anyone should be free to follow their religious convictions without federal coercion. Now, if you felt that by attending you were being coerced to choose a particular religion by your federal government then yes you have a constitutional grievance.
Doesn't say anything about separation of church and state. Moreover the Nevada (Vegas is there IIRC) constitution mentions "Almighty God" and the oath of office says "so help me God".
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If this was Virginia, you might have a case under Jeffersons 1786 bill that says "no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever". But that would be an extreme interpretation of 'frequenting a religious place'.
ARJ 6-01-2008 @ 9:47PM
Yes, we actually had to pray and sing hymns as part of the actual graduation ceremony.
However, I wasn't contemplating filing a Constitutional grievance, I was commenting on the small-mindedness--the assumption that everyone would just naturally be okay with the graduation arrangement--evident in my former school's actions.
pbhj 6-02-2008 @ 2:41PM
Which church building was it?
Jenni 6-01-2008 @ 1:20PM
Having gone to a Catholic High School, this was appropraite. Unfortunatly in today's society, this isn't allowed. I like the idea of offering it if you wanted to go, but making it mandatory just wasn't right using public funds.
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Marylena 6-01-2008 @ 6:03PM
In my area, the school has a secular graduation that includes and welcomes everyone. The churches themselves organize religious ceremonies for graduating seniors. The Catholic church has their own service. The various Protestant denominations have their own.
These services are more personal since the congregation is likely to know the graduate, may have even watched them grow up. During the service, they can say something about the student's high school activities, both church and secular, then talk about the student's plans for the future. This is the way it should be. Each faith group honoring their member personally in their way.
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Kim 6-10-2008 @ 10:37AM
As an Atheist, I am outraged by this principal's actions. When I graduated two years ago, there was an optional baccalaureate which I, and many of my classmates, chose not to attend for various reasons. Had it been a requirement, I probably would have gone for fear of jeopardizing my future, but I would not have gone quietly. To keep something like this service sacred (not to mention peaceful) for those who do believe in its message, it needs to be kept as an option, not a requirement.
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sharstratt 6-13-2008 @ 3:05AM
If this is the biggest problem in graduating seniors and their parents lives, you really are shallow. This certainly isn't going to do the damage the drug and drinking parties will do after graduation.
If you really want to worry about something consider trying to get a job in the resent economy. Or, have you found out how much college is going to cost you. It won't be free if you need student loans. This takes years to pay back after you graduate. We're talking years here. Get concerned about this and just attend the one nght religious program. This may be the one time you will get in your life to find some peace to fight the battles ahead of you.
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