ICC Note: A middle school football coach, Eddie Metcalf, has come under fire for participating in a team prayer by taking a knee on the field. Although the prayer was entirely student-led and Metcalf did not verbally contribute to the prayer, the district’s superintendent still reprimanded him for his actions. According to reports, the coach was warned that if he participated in this type of public prayer again, he would be further punished.

By Todd Starnes

12/15/2016 United States (Fox News) – A beloved Florida middle school was reprimanded for taking a knee during a student-led prayer on the football field.

Wakulla Middle School football coach Eddie Metcalf did not lead the prayer. He did not recite the prayer. He simply took a knee and bowed his head.

But according to the Wakulla County School Board, that act of reverence is against the law.

“That’s not allowable under the law,” Superintendent Robert Pearce told television station WCTV. “The coach may not participate in the prayer.”

I wonder if the school district would’ve made a fuss if the middle school coach had taken a knee to protest the national anthem. I reached out to the superintendent hoping to get an answer to that question – but so far he hasn’t returned my messages.

Not only was Coach Metcalf forbidden from participating in the prayer, he was not even allowed to give any public indication he was praying.

“He may not kneel with the players,” the superintendent told the television station. “He may not put his hands on the players during the prayer. What we want our coaches to do – and what most people have survived with in regards to meeting the letter of the law – is to have separation from the players – two to three steps.”

…
[Full Story]