Gimme a G! Gimme an O! Gimme a D! Not so Fast ...

by Tom Henderson (Subscribe to Tom Henderson's posts) Oct 2nd 2009 5:03PM

Categories: In The News, Weird But True, Education

The cheerleaders at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School in Georgia are big fans of God.

The squad used to hoist banners sporting the Lord's personal endorsement. Now, signs that include Bible verses and slogans, such as "God loves our cheerleaders," have been banned.

School district officials told ABC News they feared lawsuits.

In 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled a high school in Texas had to end pre-game prayers. Justices said the prayers amounted to a public institution imposing religious values in conflict with the protections of the First Amendment.

Here's the Chattanooga, Tn. News Channel 9 take on the issue:

The cheerleaders' spiritual banners have been a tradition at the Georgia high school -- 95 miles north of Atlanta on the Tennessee border -- for the many years. Football players burst through the banners as they run onto the field.

Removing the banners has both saddened and enraged members of the community of 11,000 people (counting both Lakeview and Fort Oglethorpe).

"It broke my heart to tell those girls they could not display that message on the football field," Catoosa County School District Superintendent Denia Reese told ABC News. "Personally, I appreciate their expression of their Christian values."

However, she added, she has a duty to protect the district from lawsuits.

Even the parent who first raised concern over the banners told ABC News she hates to see them go. She, too, said she was concerned primarily with legalities.

"I did call the superintendent to express concern that the cheerleaders' signs be done in such a way that all involved were within the ever-changing and very confusing lines drawn by the federal courts about such things," the mother, Donna Jackson, told ABC News.

Students plan on expressing their faith anyway. Many of them, not just cheerleaders, plan on holding banners expressing religious sentiments before the games -- but 100 yards from the actual football stadium.

District officials, students and parents are still unhappy that the banners have been banned.

"I hate it," Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School Principal Jerry Ransom told ABC News.

What do you think? Should God be part of public school?

Comments (337)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 17)

LS 10-02-2009 @ 5:57PM

I don't see what the problem is. The banners were made by the kids, displayed by the kids, and enjoyed by the kids. No school official sat them down and said, "You have to do this."

The "Establishment Clause" as it has come to be known does not prohibit the kids from expressing their belief in God (any god, I'd be saying this about Allah or the Great Spirit, if anyone asked), it simply prohibits the GOVERNMENT from establishing a state religion - a single religion that all must follow.

These kids did nothing wrong, and the adults who guide them ought to grow a pair, and learn to stand up for what's right.

hi 10-03-2009 @ 2:31PM

honestly, I was right about to say that when I saw your post right at the top :]

mom2mjv 10-03-2009 @ 3:14PM

The public is only outraged because the majority of them believe in the same god and thefore feel indignant about something so trivial as the constitution getting in their way. If these children were to hold a sign saying, I dont believe in god, I believe in myself so I can win or Allah help me, I guarantee they would change their tune. They really should understand there is a reason for church and state to be separated, and they can always send their children to a privated school if they want to.

CamperDee 10-03-2009 @ 3:30PM

I agree, the children, cheerleaders, parents who ever wants should be allowed to display the sciptures and spell God in a cheer. Like it has been stated, the teachers, school officials did not demand all should make spritual banners.
It is time government but out of the schools and God.
Our USA needs to get back to God. We need God, we cannot get out of the mess without God.
God Bless America! God Bless our young people!

Mark Butschke 10-03-2009 @ 4:05PM

What about freedom of speech? Seems like in our efforts to ban all things religious we are stopping all over the Bill of Rights.

JANSACTO54 10-03-2009 @ 3:44PM

It's called seperation of church and state. Just like the second admendment means your allowed to own a gun...GOT IT?

dave 10-03-2009 @ 3:48PM

the goverment is imposing a religion its called atheism....

wilsman2 10-03-2009 @ 4:01PM

Separation of church and sate, separation of church and state, serparation of church and state. What part of this statement is not understood? Want your kids to worship GOD at school, drop out of public school and enroll them in a private religious based institution. Problem solved.

Bill Anthony 10-03-2009 @ 4:26PM

To me, it's a no brainer. Obviously the majority of Americans believe in God, regardless of by what name they call Him. Therefore, in a society where majority rules, let the agnostics move to another country where their beliefs are more accepted.

gtp 10-03-2009 @ 4:25PM

The first posting stated the below and my comments follow:

“I don't see what the problem is. The banners were made by the kids, displayed by the kids, and enjoyed by the kids. No school official sat them down and said, "You have to do this."

The "Establishment Clause" as it has come to be known does not prohibit the kids from expressing their belief in God (any god, I'd be saying this about Allah or the Great Spirit, if anyone asked), it simply prohibits the GOVERNMENT from establishing a state religion - a single religion that all must follow.”

I agree with this statement except that if the banners really do offend someone who is actually involved, such as a local resident of the area who is in the stadium often and not a visitor who will never or seldom be there to be offended again, then, if that person is offended enough to complain, the religious banners should be discontinued.

It’s sort of like playing loud music on fraternity row, no one cares and therefore no one is offended to complain. The same loud music being played at night in a quite family oriented neighborhood would be problematic. If I wander onto fraternity row and do not like what I hear, I should leave; but if I live in a home and fraternity folks with loud music move in next door, I should complain if it bothers me and the frat people should stop the loud music.

scott 10-03-2009 @ 7:22PM

oh my tucking god

closetonc69 10-03-2009 @ 4:34PM

I'll buy into this theory as soon as I see a group of devil worshipers holding up a a banner, "Oh Holy Satan please help this group of non-believers score a touchdown!" at this particular school function. It is a matter of one group pretending to have the inside road to religious enlightenment, and thinking that their diety gives a crap who is triumphant on this field of battle.

Judy 10-03-2009 @ 4:59PM

THANK YOU! I'm glad there are at least a few people who understand what the "seperation of church and state" means ... obviously the people who created this pole did not!

It means the government WILL NOT INTERFERE with our religious rights ... so when did it become exactly the opposite?

gsellersjsmith 10-03-2009 @ 6:24PM

what about prayers to allah the true god

tloc3385 10-03-2009 @ 6:40PM

No the constitution guarantees the seperation of church and state meaning that any government funded or run facility or branch can not have anything to do with religion and religious views of individuals is not to interfere with govermental decisions and policies like some others have said as long as its the christian god its okay to display it but if it was allah or great spirits you people would be saying i dont want my kids seeing that crap its wrong or satanic blah blah blah and you all know it

monty 10-03-2009 @ 7:12PM

If schools can cover their hallways with Obama pictures and obama indoctrination crap, then there should be no problem with this!! Another classic example of the major hypocrisy taking place in our(?) country now!

Richard Riley 10-03-2009 @ 7:30PM

LS you're absolutely correct. The problem boils down to a society that is afraid to stand up to a Supreme Court that has misinterpreted the first Amendment to the Constitution. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." means Freedom "of" Religion, not freedom "from" religion. The Constitution was written by men of God to protect citizens from anyone, including misguided lawyers, politicians or your average atheist, from prohibiting good kids like these from demonstrating their faith in God. I pray that this incident strengthens these students in their faith. Trust in the Lord and focus on Philippians 3:14

fentex5 10-03-2009 @ 7:43PM

If you want Christian messages and prayers at the schools that your children attend, send them to Christian schools. Not everybody at public schools is a Christian. Oh...let me clarify that....Not everyone at public schools is YOUR idea of a Christian. I know plenty of real Christian people who are as much against this type of thing as most non-Christians are. There are appropriate places for religious messages and religious trappings. PUBLIC SCHOOLS are not appropriate places for that.