"[The school has] not shown neutrality but they've shown hostility toward the viewpoint being religious and anti-religious. And that's what the Constitution forbids."For background, read God Censored at North Carolina School, Citizens Rebel and also read 'Christmas' Trees Banned by North Carolina College as well as Christian Spotted in Alabama School, Obama Dept. of Ed. Investigates
-- Mathew D. Staver, Liberty University School of Law Director
-- From "Cottondale Community Fights to Keep CHRISTmas in Schools" by Bergen Baucom, WJHG-TV7 (Panama City, FL) 11/28/12
"The department of Education came in and talked to us about the legalities of religion in the school systems and the separation of the two" explained Cottondale Elementary School Principal, Brenda Jones. "So, I came back and talked to the faculty about the law and way it's written. Trying to be fair to all people decided that we would just not put the nativity scene out on campus."
The nativity scene has been a fixture of the school's holiday decor for years, though the law has been in effect for many of them. Jones told us, "some of us have not really gone by [the law] totally. We've tried to be more of what we felt, other than what the law was stating."
But parents and community members told us they were upset the Nativity scene had to be stored in a closet, instead of displayed in the yard.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Cottondale Community Responds to Ban of Nativity Scene at School" by Bergen Baucom, WJHG-TV7 (Panama City, FL) 11/29/12
Ray Windham has been the General Manager of Branning's Garage across the street from Cottondale Elementary School for years.
. . . community member Vicki Barber . . . with the help of members from her church, Piney Grove Baptist in Cottondale, has planned to help set up the nativity on Windham's property Friday, directly facing the school.
"[Barber can] cover the whole place if she wants to- the more the merrier to me" Windham told us. "I like it! Anywhere she wants to put it out there would be great and as much as she wants to put out there, on our property. More people will see it that way- more kids will see it that way."
Windham said it was time to get the message of 'Christ'mas out in the community and in the schools in a big way. He and Barber both said they hoped the Panhandle communities would join their efforts.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Nativity scene’s absence sparks complaints" by Deborah Buckhalter, Jackson County Floridan 11/30/12
Former Jackson County School Board member Betty Duffee said situations like this make her glad she retired last year.
“I don’t’ think she had a choice,” Duffee said of Jones’ decision. “There are people in the community that are threatening to sue the school board (over separation of church and state issues), and it costs a tremendous amount of money to defend something you know you will lose; there’s no doubt about that. It’s not that we’re against it (the Nativity scene); it’s just that federal law prohibits it. An attorney for the school board and the superintendent came and talked to us all and to a group of ministers later that day in a separate meeting, and they made it very clear. We must observe the separation of church and state.
“It’s a tragic thing as far as I’m concerned, but the school system is not in any kind of shape to fight a lawsuit they know that they’re going to lose. I know there was some trouble about (the content of) the meeting that was held for students at Sneads High School after the three boys over there were killed in the car accident a little while back. I know it’s hard to see this happen, because it feels like we’re losing a freedom, but this is the state of affairs in this nation.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read Missouri Votes to Bring Prayer Back to School, Countering Atheists
