More Fallout from Littleton: South Carolina Lawmaker Urges Prayer in Schools
COLUMBIA, SC — A South Carolina lawmaker who wants to put chaplains in the state’s public schools to conduct religious classes says the Colorado high school shootings make the time right, even if it means violating the constitutional separation of church and state, Associated Press reported.
“What can be more important than the safety and moral foundations of the child?” said Republican state Sen. Mike Fair. “Everybody is upset because of Columbine. While people are awake we need to talk to them before they go back to sleep.”
According to Associated Press, Fair’s proposed School Safety Act would apply to middle schools and high schools. Principals would select the chaplains, who would lead weekly 30-minute chapel periods, Fair said.
The idea met with opposition from the American Civil Liberties Union and some educators on May 3 before it was even introduced. It contradicts the First Amendment’s separation of church and state, said Steve Bates, Executive Director of the ACLU of South Carolina.
“What he’s doing is using the fear of violence in school as an excuse for violating the Constitution,” Bates said.
A Rock Hill school administrator said school boards and principals should not impose their views on the community.
“They’re basically making a value judgment for people who might not want that judgment,” William Gummerson, principal of Northwestern High School told AP.
The ACLU has received hundreds of complaints from parents and students who fear their rights are being stripped away as school administrators, law enforcement and the government overstepped their bounds in responding to the Littleton shootings.
Stay Informed
Every month, you'll receive regular roundups of the most important civil rights and civil liberties developments. Remember: a well-informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.
By completing this form, I agree to receive occasional emails per the terms of the ACLU’s privacy policy.
The Latest in Religious Liberty
-
Federal Court Orders Saucon Valley School District to Allow After School Satan Club to Meet in District Facilities
-
ACLU Sues Saucon Valley School District for Prohibiting After School Satan Club from Meeting in District Facilities
-
The Satanic Temple v. Saucon Valley School District
-
Saucon Valley School District Must Allow After School Satan Club to Meet at District Facilities, ACLU Warns
ACLU's Vision
The American Civil Liberties Union is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America.
Learn More About Religious Liberty

The ACLU strives to safeguard the First Amendment’s guarantee of religious liberty by ensuring that laws and governmental practices neither promote religion nor interfere with its free exercise.