GEORGETOWN, S.C. — Following public outcry over banning student prayer, local school officials agreed a prayer club will be formed at Georgetown High with the district’s approval.
As reported in Monday’s Georgetown Times, students who have been meeting in the school’s auditorium each morning for a time of prayer were told they could no longer hold the sessions as they were.
That decision by the district was made after officials say they received a complaint from the national organization Americans United for the Separation of Church and State (AUSCS) about a woman, Violet Infinger, handing out religious literature in the school parking lot.
Rob Boston, a spokesman for AUSCS, said the organization never had to get involved because the district acted quickly after receiving a call from an AUSCS attorney.
The decision to say “no” to the prayer group to continue the gatherings that had been going on for more than a decade drew opinions from people on both sides of the issue.
District Superintendent Dr. Dozier said Monday the only way the prayer sessions could continue is if a student-led club, sanctioned by the district, were to form.
On Tuesday, Dozier announced a prayer club at Georgetown High is being established.
“A number of students have requested to form a student prayer club,” Dozier said in a written statement. “This club will be open to all GHS students who wish to participate.”
The club, as required by district policy, will be sponsored by and monitored by a staff member and will submit a statement to the administration noting its goals, purpose and activities.
The club will have permission to meet on school grounds from 7:25 - 7:38 a.m. each morning.
In the past, youth ministers from various churches have attended the prayer sessions.
Dozier said that tradition can continue if the ministers are invited by the students in the club.
The one big difference concerns the distribution of scriptures.
Since 1999, Infinger has spent mornings before school handing out slips of paper containing Bible verses and an invitation to the prayer gatherings.
“The District does not permit the distribution of any unapproved materials on any school campus,” Dozier said. “The prayer club will be subject to these same restrictions on the distribution of religious literature.”
Public responds
Once the news hit the street about the disbanding of the prayer group, the Georgetown Times Web site and Facebook pages began filling with comments from readers.
Most were against the district’s decision, although some say it was the right move.
“I don't understand this kind of stuff. The whole purpose of the foundation of this country was based on freedom of religion,” Tim Gamble commented on the newspaper’s Facebook page.
Annie Baxley said she feels the prayer time gave students encouragement.
“We should be proud of this, not taking it away,” she said.
Reader Earl Reown said he feels prayer is for churches, not schools.
“Ninety-nine percent of students live closer to a church than a school,” he said.
Morgan Kelly agreed with Reown.
“What most people, including Christians, fail to realize is that prayer and the practice of religion aren't predicated on public displays of faith. People don't need a ‘forum’ to pray,” he said.
Benji Wham, youth minister at Georgetown Community Church and chaplain of the GHS Bulldogs, said he is not surprised the district found a way for the prayer sessions to continue.
He said the staff at GHS has always been open to Christian activities at the school.
“Georgetown High School is the best school I have ever worked with. They have always been open to ministry. (Principal Mike) Cafaro has always been a pleasure to work with,” he said.
By Scott Harper
sharper@gtowntimes.com
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Posted by: On: Tuesday, February 23, 2010 12:26 PM
Comment Title:
The mother of the victim chose to bypass the three newspapers that provide extensive coverage to Waccamaw High (The Georgetown and Waccamaw Times and Coastal Observer). She chose to go to an out of town paper that provides sporadic coverage in this area. That is where she wanted her story told. This is America and she is free to do just that.
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Posted by: On: Tuesday, February 23, 2010 9:55 AM
Comment Title:
You know, this paper has spent a lot of time on this issue, the prayer group at Georgetown High School. Why haven't you reported on the rape of the Waccamaw High School girl by a member of the Waccamaw High School basketball team? A story like that makes the prayer group at GHS seem like small potatoes, you would think, yet there hasn't been even ONE mention of this in this paper. Is it not considered newsworthy that this young girl is forced to go to school with the boy who sexually assaulted her, the boy who is still being allowed to play on the team with the blessing of Georgetown School District Superintendent Randy Dozier?
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Posted by: On: Monday, February 15, 2010 3:55 PM
Comment Title: prayer in school
I think it was handled okay, I think that this will actually protect our children from people who try to push religion on them, which can sometimes be harmful, we all know what a cult can do to weak minds, not to leave out I admire the students having prayer before school, this does not hurt a thing or no one, we need to accept everyones religious beliefs and not be so ugly to anyone,who says that one is better than another I am sure the lady meant no harm but it is best left to the students and the school, no one should take a simple prayer out of school
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Posted by: On: Friday, February 12, 2010 12:01 PM
Comment Title:
Are we biased to only one religion in our schools? Of our world population, approximately 1/3 is Christianity, 1/5 is Muslim, 1/7 is Hinduism, and the remaining are minority religions or non-religious groups. Is this a start to allowing freedom of religion in our schools? If so, would we rather keep church and state separated? I think it should be clarified that christianity shall be the only religion anyone will be allowed to participate in IF religion is allowed into our schools. Do you think I am biased? Keep praying!
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Posted by: On: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 10:47 PM
Comment Title: Scool district creates prayer club at high school
What I find amazing is that this was going on for what they say was a decade, and nobody from the district office knew about it? And Ms Infinger works at the district office and you don't think she ever told anyone what she did every morning before she came to work?? And then there is the principle at the high school...where was he, he doesn't know what is going on in his school, and what groups are meeting in the same place every morning and what they are doing.
Granted this was a group a kids that wanted to pray together (we need a lot more of that these days) but the passing out of materials by someone coming onto the campus is another thing. As I thought our campuses were suppose to be secure from outsiders and once you let people start passing out materials who knows what you may expose your students too.
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Posted by: Truthteller On: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 7:31 PM
Comment Title:
I guess people need to read the truth. http://blog.au.org/2010/02/10/proper-prayer-practices-s-c-school-ends-in-school-proselytism/
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Posted by: Eric Harmon On: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 3:55 PM
Comment Title: No separation
If you read the founding documents and really try to understand them it is clear that there is no constitutional separation of church and state. The organization trying to shut these activities down is nothing more than a bunch of liberal whiners trying to stir up trouble. The school district should have told them to mind their own business and stay out of South Carolina where we still have values!
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Posted by: iamsam On: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 3:46 PM
Comment Title: yellow
comment
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Posted by: moose29440@netscape.net On: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 7:52 AM
Comment Title:
People please this is one reason we need pray in school. Ya'll are aruging over crazies stuff. Everyone needs to pray about what they are doing. Treat other the way you want to be treated. Yes people are going to have their view on different subject but respect each other in in doing this. People we are going through tough times all of us one way shape of form. I guess what I'm saying is TREAT PEOPLE THE WAY YOU WANT TO BE TREATED. Some people will spit in your face But You need to turn the other cheek
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Posted by: Jamie Sanderson On: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 6:48 AM
Comment Title:
I never claimed to be a Christian. I live my life trying to be one, but realize I am working towards it. So, continue the negativity towards me - it shows you need work towards being one as well. And, I'll never "shut up" as you'd wish.
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Posted by: On: Tuesday, February 09, 2010 8:44 PM
Comment Title: Hallelujah!
Jamie Sanderson, SHUT UP!!! Go read some stuff, turn off FOX News, get some TRUE information, figure out which side of the fence you want to be on, PRAY, if you continue to claim to be a Christian-ACT LIKE IT! Then come back and try to say something that makes sense. Any idiot can quote what they hear on TV. Try getting a life and understanding things, like FAITH! Then maybe, just maybe, someone will care what you think.
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Posted by: great-day On: Tuesday, February 09, 2010 5:56 PM
Comment Title:
I think we need to celebrate that the issue has been resolved. I also know that a GHS faculty member has agreed to sponsor the club.
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Posted by: On: Tuesday, February 09, 2010 5:30 PM
Comment Title:
To quote Jamie: "It is about the people we allow on our school grounds and whether they are documented, have permission and abiding by our laws." Does that include "undocumented" people coming into our country as well? OR, should we just give those folks: the right to vote in our elections, social security benefits and throw in some free health care?
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Posted by: Tom Daggett On: Tuesday, February 09, 2010 5:16 PM
Comment Title:
Good to hear Jamie is so concerned about everybody obeying the "rules". This must be a recent conversion, since the Georgetown County democrat Party continues to disregard State Ethics Laws.
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Posted by: Knowing the Truth On: Tuesday, February 09, 2010 3:30 PM
Comment Title:
How narrow-minded are you? "Re-instate the students right to gather and pray" is outlandish. It's more than that - and obviously the district see it now. Students could pray before this. The issue is settled.
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Posted by: former Georgetown County Student On: Tuesday, February 09, 2010 3:11 PM
Comment Title:
It wasn't a matter of being documented.. Thats just legal mumbo jumbo that probaly the districts lawyers come up with once they decided they could not take away the students constitutional rights to "pray".... They knew they were probaly in for a bunch of lawsuits, and so probaly on the advice of their attorneys they decided to re-instate the students right to gather and pray. So, now its documented!!! after going on for years....
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Posted by: Jamie Sanderson On: Tuesday, February 09, 2010 12:25 PM
Comment Title:
This is the best outcome that could have happened. People will now be documented and accredited. The laws and ordinances will be followed. And, children at the high school can continue doing what they do with proper guidance before them. It's not about stopping children from praying. It is about the people we allow on our school grounds and whether they are documented, have permission and abiding by our laws.
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