Carter County high school students are pushing back against a national group complaining about post-game prayer.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation asked publically that the coaches refrain from praying with the students following high school basketball games.
The two schools, East Carter High School in Grayson and West Carter High School in Olive Hill, prayed to honor the victims of a then-recent school shooting. A photo of the event, which took place at West Carter, was posted on the school’s Facebook page, and an anonymous concerned citizen sent the post to the FFRF. The FFRF commented publicly on February 9, asking the coaches from the schools to stop praying with their students.
The FFRF is a non-profit organization created in 1976 which stands for keeping religion out of schools and government offices.
“Although some knew why it was reported since it violates the laws about keeping religion separate from schools, many were still upset that we were reported for something that many would see as a good thing,” said West Carter senior, Aisha Alsawafi. “I think we should either keep all religion out of schools for equal learning environments or allow all religions into schools, even ones like atheism.”
According to the Supreme Court of the United States, the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment prohibits coaches or teachers from praying with or in front of students. The FFRF states on its website that it is dishonest to state that any prayer in school is voluntary, whether students are allowed to sit out or not, due to the alienation of non-religious students during the prayer. By this, the schools violated the Establishment Clause by having coaches involved in the prayer circle, indirectly endorsing prayer in the school.
“Atheists like myself get a bad reputation from exactly the people who more than likely reported both of the high schools,” said West Carter sophomore Trey McGlone. “However, the motive behind the whole thing was a wholesome and benevolent spirit, trying to let God’s eyes watch over the recent victims of the Kentucky school shooting.”
As a reaction to the report, East Carter High School students had a second prayer circle in their school and sent a photo to the FFRF.
Neither of the high schools commented on the report and nothing has been said on the subject by the FFRF since February 14.
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