New Jersey School Stops Saying ‘God Bless America’ after ACLU Threat
ICC Note: Since 2001, New Jersey’s Glenview Elementary School has said “God Bless America” at the end of the Pledge of Allegiance in commemoration of the September 11 attacks. However, after the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) issued a complaint, the school district terminated the practice in fear of a lawsuit. Despite the fact that students were not forced to say the phrase, but were instead doing so voluntarily, the ACLU claimed that the practice was unconstitutional.
By Todd Starnes
01/06/2015 United States (Fox News) – For more than a decade boys and girls at Glenview Elementary School would start the day by gathering on the playground to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. The children of Haddon Heights, New Jersey would conclude their patriotic service by saying “God bless America.”
It was a tradition birthed by two kindergarten teachers in the aftermath of the Muslim terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 – a way to honor those who lost their lives on that terrible day.
But that tradition ended Monday – thanks to the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey.
The school’s principal sent a letter to parents advising them that “the Administration has decided to discontinue the official endorsement of reciting ‘God bless America’ at the end of the morning Pledge of Allegiance.’”
ACLU-NJ legal director Ed Barocas said reciting the phrase “God bless America” is unconstitutional, the Courier-Post reports.
“The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the government from not only favoring one religion over another, but also from promoting religion over non-religion,” he wrote in a letter to the school district’s attorney. “The greatest care must be taken to avoid the appearance of governmental endorsement in schools, especially elementary schools, given the impressionable age of the children under the school’s care and authority.”
Principal Sam Sassano tells me the recitation of “God bless America” has nothing to do with religion.
“It wasn’t taught with any intention of having any type of religious overtones,” the principal said. “It was taught to show patriotism.”