The bill … permit(s) individual school boards to adopt standards for how and when students in public schools could lead public prayer at school events, even mandatory events like student assemblies. The prayer would have to be initiated and delivered by students, with no involvement by faculty or staff.
(Bill sponsor Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando)’s original bill had been limited to non-compulsory events like school dances and extracurricular activities at secondary schools. But … the Senate adopted an amendment permitting student-run prayer at all events in all grades.
Groups like the Anti-Defamation League and American Civil Liberties Union have lobbied against the bill, calling it unconstitutional and predicting any school board adopting such policies would be sued. …
As bad as I think the law is, I’m relieved to know we don’t have to worry about it in Collier County. Our School Board decided to opt out. In a statement referred to in the Naples Daily News on Sunday (“New state laws: Collier schools pass on allowing student-led prayer law”), Superintendent Kamela Patton said:
The legislation is permissive. That means that districts are free to choose whether they want to adopt a policy whose language must track the language of the Bill. Based on our review, our policies and prevailing First Amendment law provide students with the appropriate means and protections for freedom of religious expression. Finally, based on our review as well, adopting such a policy could embroil the District in a constitutional challenge and related litigation which would not be in the District’s best interests especially at this time when we have more pressing issues to be focused on such as academic accountability and District finances. (No online citation; statement provided to me by the District.)
This is just one more example of how elections have consequences. With a different School Board – like the one we had several years ago – a different decision could easily have been reached.
Community input and feedback are important to elected officials. If you have an opinion about this Board’s decision, I encourage you to let them know. You can email them here.