TN Teachers Attend, Abstain at Flagpole Prayer Event

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Students and parents gathered around schoolyard flagpoles to pray while teachers in two county school districts sued over religious involvement attended, but did not take an active part.

The annual See You at the Pole prayer event was conducted Wednesday.

In Wilson County, where the public schools lost a lawsuit over endorsement of religion, Wilson County High School English teacher Andrew Schmeltzer attended, but stepped aside when students began praying, according to The Tennessean.

In Sumner County, public school officials have guidelines telling school employees that if they choose to pray, they must do it out of sight and earshot of students.

Hedy Weinberg, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee, said such prayer events are within the law as long as they are initiated and led by students.

"Public school employees must take care to prevent the impression of endorsement of religion," Weinberg aid. "Such safeguards ensure that students coming from families with a range of religious beliefs are respected."

At Westmoreland High School in Sumner County, a parent said the constitutional rights group also figured into a prayer.

"We prayed that the (ACLU) wouldn't be a hindrance to us, but also that the Board of Education would change their thinking and stop appeasing the ACLU," said Scottie Graves.

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Information from: The Tennessean, http://www.tennessean.com