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February 5, 2020


Title: Students are Standing Up for the Right to Pray
Topic: Student Rights
Discussed by David Closson
with Family Research Council (www.FRC.org)

David Closson is the Director of Christian Ethics and Biblical Worldview at the Family Research Council. Today, David discusses a “Prayer Locker” at the center of a firestorm in Kentucky.

Questions/Issues Discussed:

Why was the Americans United for Separation of Church and State against this Prayer Locker?

What was the school’s response to the AUSCS?

Why is this such a problem? The Prayer Locker is voluntary. No one is forcing students to participate. The designated Prayer Locker was one of the students’ that was participating.

What is their goal (“their” being the anti-religious people)?

What was President Donald Trump’s reaction to Emily’s courage?

What was the students’ response to the school’s decision?

Click here  for more from the Family Research Council.



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January 19, 2016


Title: Students Insist on “God Bless America”
Topic: Student Rights
Discussed by Eric Buehrer
with Gateways to Better Education www.GoGateways.org

Every day since 9/11, students at an elementary school in New Jersey have said “God Bless America” after reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. However, the ACLU wants to put a stop to the optional tradition, claiming it is unconstitutional. School district officials, under threat of a costly legal battle, decided to no longer encourage students to say “God Bless America” after the Pledge. The students, though, continued to recite the phrase, much the dismay of the ACLU.

Eric Buehrer, with Gateways to Better Education, is here today to provide more details about the situation. He says, “The ACLU believes that it is a religious statement and the school had no place having the students recite it.” But they just said “One nation under God” a few seconds before! What’s the difference?

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has posed the following questions on a similar issue: “To tell you the truth, there is no place for that in our constitutional tradition. Where did that come from? To be sure, you can't favor one denomination over another but can't favor religion over non-religion?"

Listen in as Eric explains the ACLU’s scare tactics and what the students chose to do in spite of the threat. For example, since the students continued to recite the phrase, the school principal informed the ACLU that the students have the right to “freedom of expression”. But is that defense going to stick? Time will tell.

Finally, Eric Buehrer discusses a short, three-minute video produced by a school in North Carolina which outlines students’ rights in regards to religious expression.



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January 15, 2015


Title: Students have Rights, Too.
Topic: Student Rights
Discussed by Travis Weber
with Family Research Council (www.FRC.org)

Part 1 of 3

In Spring Branch school district in Houston, a student wanted to form a Christian Bible Club. He, and his father, were told “no” time and time again, from different levels of leadership within the school district. Who finally told them “yes”?

Travis Weber, with the Family Research Council, talks about the First Amendment, which protects free speech, freedom of religion, and the right peacefully assemble. What rights do students have concerning clubs? What can they discuss? Who can they invite?

Sometimes, school administrators are simply misinformed about the law; other times, they just don’t want to “deal with” a Christian-based club. Travis says that all religious clubs are allowed to meet, as long as they comply with all the rules and regulations that other clubs must adhere to.

And what about teachers? Though they have less rights than students, they so still have rights. Listen in Travis explains this, too.

NOTE: Please do not construe any information discussed in this segment as legal advice. If you have any questions, please contact an attorney or contact the Family Research Council.



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Title: Part 2 of 3 - Students have Rights, Too.
Topic: Student Rights
Discussed by Travis Weber
with Family Research Council (www.FRC.org)

What about reading the Bible in class? Travis reviews a case from up north that involves a student who was told he could not read his Bible in class. What are his rights? Can a student read a Bible during non-instructional time, whether in class, the library, the lunch table, in the hallway, on the bus?

Now, what about prayer? Do students have the right to pray before they take a test? Before they eat lunch? Before a sports game? Listen in as Travis explains students’ rights concerning various scenarios.

NOTE: Please do not construe any information discussed in this segment as legal advice. If you have any questions, please contact an attorney or contact the Family Research Council.



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Title: Part 3 of 3 - Students have Rights, Too.
Topic: Student Rights
Discussed by Travis Weber
with Family Research Council (www.FRC.org)

In this final segment with attorney Travis Weber, he talks about when it is acceptable for your child to share their testimony with other students. What do you think the answer is? Never? Sometimes? Privately? Listen in as Travis explains when and where it is okay, and what steps should be taken if your student is told they cannot share their testimony or anything about Jesus Christ.

To wrap up the interview, Travis explains that students even have the right to form a pro-life club or group. Again, as long as the students follow the rules and regulations, students can form any type of group or club they wish to create. If your student is told “no”, then contact an attorney or legal group.

NOTE: Please do not construe any information discussed in this segment as legal advice. If you have any questions, please contact an attorney or contact the Family Research Council.




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January 9, 2015


Title: Bibles are Allowed in Public School
Topic: Student Rights
Discussed by Travis Weber
with Family Research Council (www.FRC.org)

A 7th grader in Missouri decided to take his Bible to school to read during free-time in class. I bet you can just guess what happened next! Yep! His teacher told him he wasn’t allowed to read his Bible in school!

Travis Weber explains how the child was not being disruptive. The child was not reading aloud. The child was simply reading his Bible silently in his seat. Listen in as Travis explains what your child has the right to read, report on, and talk about in school.



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