What These High Schoolers Did After Administrators Banned the Lord’s Prayer At Graduation

Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” – Luke 11:1

For 70 years, the choir at East Liverpool Junior/Senior High School in Ohio sang the Lord’s Prayer at the graduation ceremony. The atheists of the so-called Freedom From Religion Foundation, based in Wisconsin, threatened to sue the school district over the song, claiming a First Amendment Establishment Clause violation.

Neither the federal nor Ohio state governments established any religion by allowing a choir to sing a religious song at a government school. The board caved, anyway, and removed the song from the program. “It breaks my heart,” choir director Lisa Ensinger told Todd Starnes of Fox News. “Our students are really sad.”

But the disappointed students didn’t cave. It appears on the video that most of the students remained standing or stood up again after the valedictorian welcomed everyone. Then the class recited the Lord’s Prayer. They defied the atheists and the board. Did the students break a rule? As Starnes noted, the choir didn’t sing the song.

“I was very proud to see the youth, our future leaders, decide to stand up for what they believed in, the father of a senior named Bobby Hill said. “I can’t lie—I teared up. I’ve always taught my two boys to stand up for what you believe is right. The same lesson my parents taught me. It doesn’t matter if it’s over religion or something else – take a stand.”

Sometimes it’s better to back down from a fight. Your anger might be unrighteous. You could be outmatched. Perhaps the battle isn’t worth the effort. But sometimes, you have to stand your ground and face the opposition.

Do you think the high schoolers did the right thing?

Photo credit: American Life League (Creative Commons) – Some Rights Reserved