Pace: the final frontier, chapter 5 — NOW I get it ... but the high school doesn't

When last we checked in on the whackjob Christianists in Pace, Fla., their battle to ignore the U.S. Constitution had evolved from one purely about organized prayer in public schools to something more abstract but still related, namely, the Santa Rosa County School Board's decision to restrict student speakers at graduation to those selected "on a neutral basis," such as grades. Many of Pace High School's students and others in the community were --and are -- up in arms about the fact that elected student leaders would be barred from speaking, apparently because of the school board's concern that they might offer an organized prayer in violation of a federal consent decree.* Despite my status as a godless DFH, I even allowed that perhaps the Board's restrictions might be a bit "draconian," that is, they might go too far because there was no reason to presume that, say, the student body president would pray in her speech; moreover, if the school instructed the "non-neutral-basis" speakers not to pray, that may be enough to show compliance with the consent decree (PDF).

Boy, was I wrong.

Last evening there was a rally, deceptively titled a "Students' Rights Rally," at Pace Assembly of God, where two of the key players in this drama -- Pace High's student body president and its principal -- spoke. And they left no doubt whatsoever that if other students were allowed to speak at graduation, they would lead organized prayers, and they gladly would violate the consent decree and the Constitution if given the chance.

It may cost him his job, but Pace High School Principal Frank Lay says he won't sit back and watch student leaders be denied a chance to speak at their own graduation — despite worries they may violate a federal consent decree.

"No way are we going to back down, back off, lay down or roll over," he said to the applause of more than 700 people who attended a Students' Rights Rally at Pace Assembly of God on Tuesday night.

A federal judge issued an order in January prohibiting district employees from promoting or endorsing prayers at school functions and organizing school-sponsored religious services.

[...]

Mary Allen, Pace High student body president, thanked those who attended. She will not be allowed to speak at graduation.

"Praise God for students who are not afraid to step out on faith," she said.

Many active and retired teachers were present, as were several Pace High staff members. No district officials or board members were at the rally, organizers said.

Removing student leaders from speaking at graduation is unfortunate and unnecessary, said the Rev. Joey Rogers, pastor of Pace Assembly of God.

"The consent decree signed by the School Board has given away much of our freedoms," he said. "It has been over and above what needed to be done. It is time we stand up because the next generation is counting on that."

Lay said it is time the community takes responsibility.

"The blame game is the devil's game," he said. "It is the devil's distraction for what we need to do, and we need to get busy as Christian people."

Wow. Let's take these one at a time, because I don't think there could have been three quotes that damaged their argument more profoundly than these.

First, Mary Allen: you just guaranteed that you won't get to speak at graduation. If you'd said, "Prayer is a private matter, and while I would pray on my own before speaking, I would comply with the consent decree, follow the Constitution, and refrain from offering a prayer from the lectern," you'd be fine. Instead, you showed exactly why the school board had to make the decision they did -- because you proved that you won't be able to resist praying in public. The board rightfully can't take that chance.

Rev. Rogers, other than grandstanding, I still don't see why you're involved in this at all. (Okay, it was your church hosting the rally, but still ...) No one's freedoms are "given away" by the consent decree; to the contrary, everyone's right to be free from unnecessary intrusion of a specific religious belief has been preserved. You know, the Constitution doesn't exist to guarantee the rights of the majority -- it exists to protect the rights of a minority, even a minority of one, against the forced imposition of majority rule. While white evangelical Christians surely are the overwhelming majority in Pace, Rev. Rogers, that's all the more reason to ensure that your majority doesn't trample the rights of those who are not white evangelical Christians. That's why the Constitution exists, Reverend -- not to push some erroneous and historically inaccurate notion of a "Christian" nation.

Finally, Principal Lay: you of all people should recognize that while you may disagree personally with a particular policy, it is your duty to implement it. It's disgraceful that you forsook a tremendous "teachable moment," an opportunity to explain how the consent decree upholds the Constitution, and instead you chimed in with everyone else to advance your personal beliefs at the expense of knowledge, reason, and true American values. I don't begrudge you your faith, nor would I ever say that you can't pray on your own, even in a public school. But you should know full well that it's disingenuous at best, and hypocritical at worst, to don the mantle of "Christian people" to justify ramming your faith down the collective throats of a community whose members all shouldn't have to be subjected to it. Not everyone believes as you do, Principal Lay, even in Pace. It would do you good to bear that in mind.

As I've explained before, this is not a free speech issue; it is an issue of whether or not the state can "establish" a particular religion. The Constitution cannot be invoked to protect the (Christian majority) students' rights, as the title of the rally sought to convey, but to protect the rights of those students and others who do not necessarily believe in the Christian faith.

It is unfortunate that the federal courts and the ACLU are being characterized as the "bad guys" in all of this, for all they have done is ensure that the Constitution -- the law of the land -- is followed. It is also unfortunate that the principal and others face potential professional discipline or worse because they refuse to obey the consent decree. But unless and until they recognize that they cannot force their faith on others in public schools, they only have themselves to blame for the consequences of their actions.

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* To my knowledge, no one yet has raised the question of whether the "neutral basis" speakers, the valedictorian and salutatorian, might offer prayers and, if so, what might result therefrom.