School Committee Approves Placard Stating Banner's 'Historical' Significance

The Cranston School Committee voted unanimously Monday night to place a placard in the auditorium at Cranston High School West that details the historical significance of all the “student works of art” that hang there.

The last sentence of the placard will state, “The works of art are maintained out of respect for the student artists and their historical significance and not because of any political, religious, or ethnic content that may be perceived in one or more of its elements.”

An audience had turned up on Monday night, with many of them donning the blue KEEP ORIGINAL BANNER signs, which have become ubiquitous among those defending a prayer banner hanging inside Cranston High School West. Supporters wore the shirts at several meetings during which the School Committee addressed the issue. The committee ultimately decided to allow the banner to remain in the public school, despite warnings of a lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union. Many members of the audience cleared out Monday after School Committee Member Frank Lombardi told them the banner will not be debated, only the placards to memorialize it.

The placard idea, which asserts its historical significance, comes just two weeks after David Bradley, the creator of the banner, said the banner was written in 1960 after he was asked to write a non-denominational prayer for the school, not a piece of art. The prayer begins with "Our Heavenly Father," and ends with "Amen."

“We’re recognizing his work as being a piece of art work that hangs on the wall,” said Lombardi.  He said it would have the same significance as all the other banners that hang inside Cranston West.

Lombardi said that he had received an e-mail from a member of the ACLU that suggested they place a historical marker on it to give it significance, which may allow it to stay up in its original form.

“This has never been about religion versus state," Lombardi said. “It’s about whether this particular banner offends the first amendment and we’ve always held that it doesn’t simply because it was intended to be a historical monument of student works.”

The ACLU has said that because the banner is addressed to “Our Heavenly Father,” it is unconstitutional and violates the principle of separation of church and state. 

Lombardi said that lawyers for both sides have agreed to meet before the case is filed in court to discuss possible options. They would discuss if there were any potential resolutions short of taking it down.

A subcommittee meeting to discuss the banner issue with Mayor Allan Fung and City Council President Anthony J. Lupino will take place as soon as possible, according to Lombardi.

Until then, the banner will remain, a historical remnant of another generation.