Parents Sue N.J. School for 'God' Song Ban

[Torog]

Parents Sue N.J. School for 'God' Song Ban
May 20, 2005 10:10 PM EDT

NEWARK, N.J. - A public school prohibited a second grader from singing a religious song at a talent show, prompting a lawsuit Friday alleging violation of the girl's constitutional rights.

A federal judge declined an emergency request to compel Frenchtown Elementary School to allow 8-year-old Olivia Turton to sing "Awesome God" at the Friday night show, but allowed the lawsuit to go forward.

School officials in the western New Jersey community had said the performance would be inappropriate at a school event. A message seeking comment from a school board attorney about the judge's ruling was not immediately returned.

The decision by U.S. District Judge Stanley R. Chesler in Trenton to consider the case later came just hours before Olivia had hoped to sing the pop song by the late Rich Mullins.

One verse has these lyrics: "Our God is an awesome God/He reigns from heaven above/with wisdom, pow'r and love/Our God is an awesome God."

The girl was told May 10 that she could not sing the song. Her mother, Maryann Turton, protested at a school board meeting that night. She was told three days later by Joyce Brennan, the school superintendent and principal, that the religious content made it inappropriate at school, according to the lawsuit filed by the child's parents Friday morning.

The lawsuit charges that the school board violated Olivia's constitutional rights to freedom of speech and due process.

The lawsuit, supported by the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal advocacy group based in Scottsdale, Ariz., argues that the constitutional separation of church and state does not restrict an individual's religious speech.

The girl's lawyer, Demetrios K. Stratis, questioned how the Frenchtown school could reject Olivia's choice but allow another act based on the opening scene of "MacBeth."

"They've got a scene about boiling animals and witchcraft, but they won't allow a song about God," Stratis said.

Torog Reviewed by Torog on 05-21-2005. Parents Sue N.J. School for 'God' Song Ban Parents Sue N.J. School for 'God' Song Ban May 20, 2005 10:10 PM EDT NEWARK, N.J. - A public school prohibited a second grader from singing a religious song at a talent show, prompting a lawsuit Friday alleging violation of the girl's constitutional rights. A federal judge declined an emergency request to compel Frenchtown Elementary School to allow 8-year-old Olivia Turton to sing "Awesome God" at the Friday night show, but allowed the lawsuit to go forward. School officials in the Rating: 5

[Torog]

Howdy Y'all,

This is what pissed me off:

"They've got a scene about boiling animals and witchcraft, but they won't allow a song about God," Stratis said.

I think it's obvious,that liberal educators are trying to revive paganism,while banning and denying,Constitutional rights..I can only hope that they are made to regret their bald-faced attempt at denying Constitutional rights..to Christian children.

I'm almost certain,that if a muslim child were to utter "Allah akbar !",on stage and in a loud voice..they would cheer..but a little girl,acknowledging that God is awesome..is too much for them to bear..give me a break !

Have a good one....

[Button Basher]

'Sup Torog.

For once, I understand your anger. I wouldn't doubt a song like that would be out of place in a children's play but that shouldn't deny the poor kid the right to sing it. It's totally harmless, what are they expecting to happen?

Keep in mind the quaint nature of children's school productions , i'm sure the boiling animals/witchcraft scenes arn't exactly hate-filled, pro-pagan rituals, but the reasons for banning any kind of harmless performance from an innocent child is beyond me.

[Torog]

'Sup Torog.

For once, I understand your anger. I wouldn't doubt a song like that would be out of place in a children's play but that shouldn't deny the poor kid the right to sing it. It's totally harmless, what are they expecting to happen?

Keep in mind the quaint nature of children's school productions , i'm sure the boiling animals/witchcraft scenes arn't exactly hate-filled, pro-pagan rituals, but the reasons for banning any kind of harmless performance from an innocent child is beyond me.

Howdy BB,

Wow..we agree on something ! lol

I'll tell ya what the liberal educators are allegedly worried about..lawsuits by those who are offended at Christianity..but that's really just a convenient excuse,to continue their campaign against Christian familys. They best be worried about lawsuits coming from Christians..we do have some well financed legal defense organizations on our side.

Hav a good one...

[amsterdam]

thats why my kids are going to a private catholic school.they are going to be punished,they are going to sing the star spangled banner everyday,they are going to be able to study the declaration of independence,etc.,etc.

[bhallg2k]

Howdy Y'all,

This is what pissed me off:

"They've got a scene about boiling animals and witchcraft, but they won't allow a song about God," Stratis said.

I think it's obvious,that liberal educators are trying to revive paganism,while banning and denying,Constitutional rights..I can only hope that they are made to regret their bald-faced attempt at denying Constitutional rights..to Christian children.

There you go again.

Just when you were making a good point about the repression of free speech, you had to fuck it up by implying that because they allowed a scene about "boiling animals and witchcraft," they are "trying to revive paganism." That's just absolutely stupid and only those who play on fear, such as yourself and your heroes, O'Reilly and Limbaugh, would ever make that connection.

Honestly, by your rationale, they were correct to stop the girl from singing about God. If their giving permission to perform is a tacit endorsement of the song or scene's subject matter, then by law, they are not permitted to allow her to perform a God song. Because that would be them promoting God. Nor should they have allowed the "witch" scene for the same reason. And I should not have been able to act in "The Crucible" in high school.

They were wrong to stop her from singing. Just say that and you win.

And your little ACLU bash is way off the mark. If anything, the ACLU would support this girl because she wasn't treated fairly under the law. That's what the ACLU does, they protect liberties, contrary to most right-wingers' moronic notions.

[amsterdam]

There you go again.

Just when you were making a good point about the repression of free speech, you had to fuck it up by implying that because they allowed a scene about "boiling animals and witchcraft," they are "trying to revive paganism." That's just absolutely stupid and only those who play on fear, such as yourself and your heroes, O'Reilly and Limbaugh, would ever make that connection.

Honestly, by your rationale, they were correct to stop the girl from singing about God. If their giving permission to perform is a tacit endorsement of the song or scene's subject matter, then by law, they are not permitted to allow her to perform a God song. Because that would be them promoting God. Nor should they have allowed the "witch" song for the same reason. And I should not have been able to act in "The Crucible" in high school.

They were wrong to stop her from singing. Just say that and you win.

And your little ACLU bash is way off the mark. If anything, the ACLU would support this girl because she wasn't treated fairly under the law.

the aclu is a joke in this country.

[amsterdam]

like jesse jackson or al gore.

[Torog]

thats why my kids are going to a private catholic school.they are going to be punished,they are going to sing the star spangled banner everyday,they are going to be able to study the declaration of independence,etc.,etc.

Howdy amsterdam,

Good for you ! I tell you what,one of the quickest ways to freak out a liberal educator,is pull yer kids out of school,and put them in a private school or home-schooling..for every kid that leaves the public school system,there's a corresponding drop in federal money to the public school..heck,just missing a few days,results in a drop of federal(our money)funds,to public schools..I've even recieved letters,from the school,begging parents to ensure that kids don't take off sick or whatever reason..because it would impact how much money they recieve from the goverment.

Have a good one !

[amsterdam]

it is outta control.