'God Bless America' OK to Say, Florida School Board Decides

The Nassau County School Board has weighed in on a brewing controversy over a student’s use of the phrase “God Bless America” to close out morning announcements at Yulee High School.

It seems the board doesn’t agree with the American Humanist Association’s stand that use of the phrase violates the U.S. Constitution.

“It does not promote any religious denomination and is commonly used as an expression of patriotism,” the board concluded, according to First Coast News.

The brouhaha over the wording ignited when a student added the unscripted phrase to the high school’s morning announcements. Two students, who are atheists, lodged a complaint with the association. It, in turn, had its legal center fire off a letter to the school district demanding the practice be stopped.

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“The letter asserts that this endorsement of religion by a public school violates the Establishment Clause, as it privileges religion over nonreligion,” according to the association’s website. “Such government promotion of theism also defines God-belief as patriotic and relegates atheist, humanist and other nontheist students to second-class citizenship.”

Following receipt of the letter, the student was asked to refrain from using the impromptu closing remark, sparking protests outside the school.

“The president says God Bless America,” parent Amy Richmond told First Coast News. “What is the big deal saying it in our school? I am so proud of him.”

After consulting their lawyer, the school board seems to have taken Richmond’s side of the argument.

“Our hope is that the phrase ‘God Bless America’ will continue to ring in the halls of Congress, in our stadiums, in our arenas, in the halls of our schools and, most importantly, in the hearts of our children,” the board wrote in a statement.

It is unclear whether the phrase will now return to Yulee High School’s morning announcements, however. The Florida Times- Union points out that the phrase remains an unscripted addition.

Image via Shutterstock

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