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Education

Xenolith

(20 posts) Thu Aug 8, 2013, 10:43 AM Aug 2013

"God Bless America" in a public school [View all]

The principal at the elementary school where my wife works blasts God Bless America over the intercom every morning. Students are expected to stand, and they can sing along if they want to.

It seems to me that God Bless America is, in essence, a prayer, since it is invoking God to do something, and compelling students to listen to it is subjecting them to a religious viewpoint. This violates the prohibition against compulsory religion in public schools.

Am I right on this, or off base?

17 replies

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Highlight:

"God Bless America" in a public school [View all] Xenolith Aug 2013 OP

"God Bless America" is a song -- written by an atheist Jew... immoderate Aug 2013 #1

Students "are expected to stand..." Smarmie Doofus Aug 2013 #7

The Kate Smith version is the only one I can tolerate. n/t duffyduff Aug 2013 #13

Yeah, I have no problem ignoring or shifting from any version of that song. immoderate Aug 2013 #16

I never liked that song. tblue Aug 2013 #2

She hasn't decided if or what to do. Xenolith Aug 2013 #6

I would suggest LWolf Aug 2013 #15

I am not sure composer Irving Berlin was that big a fan, either. n/t duffyduff Aug 2013 #14

Yeah it's inappropriate Tien1985 Aug 2013 #3

No biggie ... Koios Aug 2013 #4

Off base, but I appreciate your wife's sentiment. elleng Aug 2013 #5

the problem isn't the song itself, the problem is its daily use in a public school. unblock Aug 2013 #10

On base. It's a prayer put to music. Period. n/t Smarmie Doofus Aug 2013 #8

other comments about it being "just a song" or "written by an atheist jew" are beside the point. unblock Aug 2013 #9

You are right. It is inappropriate. femmocrat Aug 2013 #11

I agree - and good luck finding parents to complain. TBF Aug 2013 #17

The song always held a special place in my heart. IggleDoer Aug 2013 #12