School Attorney Says Weekly Flag Pole Prayer Violates Establishment Clause

According to yesterday's Jacksonville Times-Union, in Clay County, Florida, the attorney for the county school board last week sent the board a Legal Memorandum (full text) concluding that weekly "Prayer Around the Flag Pole" activities involve an endorsement of religion that violates the Establishment Clause. The prayers are led and organized by a local Baptist minister and take place at 8:15 each Monday morning-- nearly an hour after teachers' work time has begun. Teachers, staff and students participate, and the school has promoted the ceremonies in a newsletter to staff and administrators. The attorney's memo says that the minister and others could use school grounds for prayer, so long as they leave before the time teachers report for work.