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Published On: Thu, Oct 18th, 2018

Maryland’s Jarrettsville Elementary School concedes to atheists and takes down ‘Give us this day our daily bread’ sign from cafeteria

The atheists celebrate their “victory” as the Freedom From Religion Foundation filed an objection to a sign in a Maryland school’s cafeteria which read “Give us this day our daily bread” in old English-style lettering.

Using their interpretation of the Establishment Clause, the atheist group claims that this violates the Constitution as it pushes for the eradication of anything and everything religious in a school or publicly funded setting.

“Elementary students should not have to view material promoting a Christian message,” FFRF Senior Counsel Patrick Elliott wrote in his Sept. 26 letter to Superintendent Sean Bulson. “There is no educational or academic component or motive for such postings; their presence is proselytizing a captive audience.”

Read the full release at the bottom.

Full presser from FFRF:

A Christian sign has come down from an elementary school lunchroom in a Harford County, Md., school following a complaint from the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

A concerned parent contacted FFRF to report that Jarrettsville Elementary School displayed a portion of the Lord’s Prayer on a large plaque in its cafeteria. Between the doors where students pass to receive their lunch, a wooden sign, approximately 3 feet wide by 6 inches tall, read “Give us this day our daily bread” in old English-style lettering. This phrase is from Matthew 6:11 in the New Testament.

FFRF sent a letter asking that the school to remove this sign to comply with the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. It is well-established law that school districts may not display religious messages or iconography in public schools.

“Elementary students should not have to view material promoting a Christian message,” FFRF Senior Counsel Patrick Elliott wrote in his Sept. 26 letter to Superintendent Sean Bulson. “There is no educational or academic component or motive for such postings; their presence is proselytizing a captive audience.”

FFRF recently received an e-mail from the district that the plaque has been removed from the lunchroom.

“We at FFRF commend the district for remedying this violation and protecting the rights of consciousness of its students,” says FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. “Religion is divisive and exclusionary and has no place in our public schools.”

The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a national nonprofit organization with more than 32,000 members across the country, including over 500 members in Maryland. FFRF’s purposes are to protect the constitutional principle of separation between church and state, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism.

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About the Author

- Roxanne "Butter" Bracco began with the Dispatch as Pittsburgh Correspondent, but will be providing reports and insights from Washington DC, Maryland and the surrounding region. Contact Roxie aka "Butter" at theglobaldispatch@gmail ATTN: Roxie or Butter Bracco

Displaying 8 Comments
Have Your Say
  1. Well, I touched a nerve.

    Thanks for all of the responses. Let me be clear: I support the reporting of these stories, whether I agree with them or not. Feel free to attack my motivations, but don’t pretend you don’t have one.

    I think this new-atheist movement, which includes the FFRF and Humanist groups, are wrong to attack any and ALL references to religion in the public schools, public space etc…

    The founders set forth the Constitution based on natural laws, those very laws detailed and perpetuated in the Judeo-Christian religions. It was clear they did NOT want a national religion, but did pay for the printing/distribution of Bible, spoke about the need for this moral fabric to keep the Republic and appear to have NO ISSUE with the religious displays over the decades.

    No, this is a new twist on the notion that it’s offensive or “establishes” a religion – which is just nonsense.

    Ray’s “Snowflake Syndrome” may be more accurate than he knows. I disagree with Todd that we need to “neutral,” which translates to VOID of any religion. I want MORE free speech. You want to erect your Spaghetti Monster exhibit next to the Nativity Scene, sure. Go ahead. Here’s the rules:

    1. It’s paid for and maintained by someone in that area, not a faceless entity in some other state.
    2. It must be declared “Sponsored by….”

    We can’t just slough off 2000 years of the influence of this value system, even if you are offended by it. Being offended is NOT the same as violating a right. Stop telling us all how the phase in the cafeteria is indoctrinating kids to believe the Bible….just ridiculous.

    If this is allowed, what’s next?

    Should we take down quotes by Martin Luther King because he was a Reverend? Should hospitals not be allowed to be a Catholic or Adventist facility because that’s offensive to their patients?

    More free speech…NOT LESS

  2. Ray says:

    The narrow minded and insecurity of the new-atheists is just amazing. A single quote from a the most famous and popular historical text is not propagating religion in any way. Where is the evidence that the quote or presence of any of this religious material resulted in the conversion of anyone to Christianity? The oppression of anothers’ expression of the their faith?

    No, this is the “Snowflake Syndrome” in the atheist community who can’t appear to handle the very presence of a verse, a prayer or a statue – “Get it out” they yell. “Tear it down” and then…when the Christian community shares the news, they wrap themselves in the Constitution to mislead the public.

    The Constitution protects “freedom of expression” and in America that results in the “freedom to be offended.” Stop pretending this is about Christians indoctrination others in an elementary school cafeteria. This is about shutting down free speech, free expression, the assault on faith by atheists who feel it’s best to live in their version of an amoral world.

    Keep posting Brandon, some of us get what you are doing. Kudos to Roxie for including the press release and not manipulating or extracting anything, let the FFRF be clear who they are: atheist bullies.

  3. Tom Rath says:

    This was the correct thing to do. A public school cannot allow the perception of the endorsement of ANY religion.

    • So now establishment has been reduced to “perception of the endorsement” of a religion?

      Let’s be honest, the FFRF is all about eradicating the Christian faith from schools.

      • Charles SparrowYour Name... says:

        No faiths of any kind should be in our schools which are for education and not for promoting supernaturalism.

      • George Tillman says:

        Let’s be honest, Brandon. You have no real basis for that assertion other than casting Christianity as a victim as a defensive action. …possibly tied to a martyr complex.

        Yes, there is an issue with our government giving the impression of endorsement, especially around impressionable children.

      • Mark Gomez says:

        Considering that any faith should not be endorsed by schools…you bet. Pesky constitution being upheld.

      • Todd Peissig says:

        Correct. Public schools should not promote ANY religion in any way, shape or form. Public schools exist to educate everyone regardless of your brand of religion or non-religion. If we allow one religion to be able to exist in the school, that is showing discrimination to all who don’t practice it. Remaining neutral is the ONLY way. That is what the FFRF advocates. Neutrality is fair for everyone who wishes to be educated in our public schools

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