rssSchool districts heed warnings about school prayer law
Many Florida school districts are, so far, listening to warnings from civil rights groups that adopting policies allowing for prayer at any school event will land them in court.
Legislator blames ‘drug abuse, teen pregnancy, rape and assault’ on absence of school prayer
In an op-ed defending Florida’s new school prayer bill, which was signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott a week ago, state Rep. Charles Van Zant, R-Palatka, blamed the absence of prayer in schools for numerous social ills, after insisting his bill was not actually about school prayer.
School districts warned not to adopt prayer policies
The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, along with other groups, sent letters to school boards this week, warning them not to adopt policies recently allowed by the state that the civil liberties groups says will surely land them in court.
Scott signs school prayer bill
Late last week, Gov. Rick Scott signed into law a measure that allows all schools in Florida to adopt policies allowing students to give “inspirational messages,” which could include prayers or hate speech, during any school event. Critics of the law have warned that the law will land the state in yet another lawsuit.
Religious leaders urge Scott to veto school prayer bill
Religious leaders sent a letter to Gov. Rick Scott today, urging him to veto a bill that would allow school boards to adopt policies allowing “inspirational messages,” including prayers, to be given during any school event. The bill is currently awaiting Scott’s signature.
Controversial school prayer bill heads to governor’s desk
A bill that would allow “inspirational messages,” including prayers, to be given during any school event, was passed on the House floor today with an 88-27 vote. The bill is now headed to the governor’s desk.
School prayer bill set for final vote today, without amendments
Attempts to create safeguards against “messages in of hate,” which some lawmakers warn could come about with the passage of the so-called “school prayer bill,” failed yesterday. The bill, unamended, will go to a final vote today.
Dems introduce amendments to school prayer bill aimed at protecting against ‘messages of hate’
Democratic members of the Florida House have introduced amendments to a contentious bill that would grant school districts the right to adopt policies that allow K-12 students to give “inspirational messages,” which may include prayers or hateful messages, during any school event. The bill is scheduled to be heard this afternoon on the House floor.
Liberty Counsel founder flip-flops on school prayer bill
Mat Staver, the founder of a Christian legal group known as the Liberty Counsel, has switched his position on a bill currently making its way to the governor’s desk. The bill, which is sponsored by state Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, would allow state school boards to adopt policies allowing K-12 students to give “inspirational messages,” including prayers, at any school event.
School prayer bill passes another Florida House committee
A bill that would allow K-12 students to deliver “inspirational messages,” including prayers, during mandatory and non-mandatory school events was approved by a Florida House judiciary committee today.
