Public school coach asks Supreme Court to OK post-game prayers

BREMERTON, Washington– A coachs individual act of prayer that grew into a public phenomenon after Bremerton High School football video games is now a significant test of the First Amendment in a case Monday before the U.S. Supreme Court.The coach, Joe Kennedy, who was suspended by the school in 2015 over post-game prayers on the field, is asking the justices to affirm the right of public school workers to hope aloud while on the task, even when within view of trainees they coach or teach.A coachs post-game prayers at the 50 yard-line on Bremerton High Schools football field divided the small community outside of Seattle.” It was my covenant in between me and God that after every video game, win or lose, Im going to do it right there on the field of battle,” Kennedy stated of his ritual, which he stated usually lasted less than a minute.Former Bremerton High School assistant football coach Joe Kennedy says his post-game prayers on the field were personal acts of faith, but the school district states they ended up being public spectacles that breached the First Amendment.Lower courts sided with the school district. In a 2000 case, Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe, the court stated that opening football video games with student-led prayer is likewise unconstitutional.At the same time, the court has actually ruled that complimentary speech rights dont end at the schoolhouse gate and that religion need not be totally expunged from public schools.School authorities at Bremerton High School in Bremerton, Washington, suspended assistant football coach Joe Kennedy in 2015 after he continued to pray openly with trainees on the field after games.While Kennedy consistently hoped on the field after video games for more than seven years, bring in varying levels of participation from trainees, it wasnt up until 2015 that the school district informed him that separation of church and state indicated he could no longer hope with players and keep his task. “You do not leave that behind when you go teach or coach at a public school, however what you do leave behind is your ability to engage trainees who are very impressionable, who are required to go to public school.Kennedys case has been cheered on by leading Republicans, consisting of previous President Donald Trump, dozens of state and federal lawmakers, and star NFL quarterbacks, like Kirk Cousins and Nick Foles, who have told the justices in a friend-of-the-court filing that the power of prayer promotes great sportsmanship.Rachel Laser, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, says the First Amendment avoids public school instructors and coaches from making coercive religious displays while on the job.” When the teacher or coach is standing up and leading the kids, I believe you cross the line into indoctrination,” Peterson said.The case might have an effect on public school playing fields across the country and figure out whether Kennedy can coach once again, and take a knee in prayer for his Bremerton Knights.Joe Kennedy, a Marine Corps veteran from Bremerton, Washington, coached high school football for 8 years up until he was suspended by school district authorities in 2015 over post-game prayers on the field.He currently lives in Florida however has actually informed the court he would move back to Bremerton if the justices rule in his favor.

BREMERTON, Washington– A coachs individual act of prayer that grew into a public spectacle after Bremerton High School football games is now a significant test of the First Amendment in a case Monday prior to the U.S. Supreme Court.The coach, Joe Kennedy, who was suspended by the school in 2015 over post-game prayers on the field, is asking the justices to affirm the right of public school staff members to hope aloud while on the job, even when within view of students they coach or teach.A coachs post-game prayers at the 50 yard-line on Bremerton High Schools football field divided the little community outside of Seattle.” It was my covenant between me and God that after every video game, lose or win, Im going to do it right there on the field of battle,” Kennedy said of his routine, which he stated normally lasted less than a minute.Former Bremerton High School assistant football coach Joe Kennedy states his post-game prayers on the field were private acts of faith, however the school district says they became public spectacles that breached the First Amendment.Lower courts sided with the school district.” When the teacher or coach is standing up and leading the kids, I believe you cross the line into indoctrination,” Peterson said.The case might have an effect on public school playing fields across the country and determine whether Kennedy can coach again, and take a knee in prayer for his Bremerton Knights.Joe Kennedy, a Marine Corps veteran from Bremerton, Washington, coached high school football for 8 years until he was suspended by school district authorities in 2015 over post-game prayers on the field.He presently lives in Florida but has actually informed the court he would move back to Bremerton if the justices rule in his favor.