See You at the Pole

See You at the Pole (SYATP) is an annual gathering of Christian students of all ages at a flagpole in front of their local school for prayer, scripture-reading and hymn-singing, during an early morning hour preceding the start of the school day. The American SYATP events occur on every fourth Wednesday of September [ [http://www.syatp.com/info/index.html Official web site] ] . This annual gathering began in Burleson, Texas, in 1990, as a response to a Disciple Now weekend with a handful of Christian students. It has grown by word of mouth, announcements at youth rallies and churches, and the Internet; SYATP meetings now occur internationally.

In 2005, over 2 million students in the US participated, as well as students in Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, Germany, Ghana, Guam, Hong Kong, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Malaysia, Nigeria, Norway, Peru, Portugal, Scotland, and South Africa. [cite news
first=Jenn|last=Rowell
title=Area students prepare to offer 'See You at the Pole' prayers
date=2006-09-09
work=The Free Lance-Star
location=Fredericksburg, VA
url=http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2006/092006/09092006/219762|accessdate=2008-03-07]

Legal status

Background

The organization advocating and guiding student participation in SYATP events insists that they be exclusively student-initiated and led without official endorsement or interference, according to rights affirmed by the "Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District" decision of the U.S. Supreme Court — as well as a 1995 Clinton administration assignment of the President's Secretary of Education for legalization of particular school religious activities as long as they passed constitutional guidelines. The American Civil Liberties Union also approves of student-led SYATP events held before or after school, provided that the school neither encourages nor discourages participation.

Cases

In 2006, school officials at South Floyd High School in Floyd County, Kentucky tried to deny students permission for the flag pole rally, but attorneys from the Rutherford Institute were successful in arguing for the students' free speech rights. "It's important that students, teachers and others know about their right to participate in See You at the Pole events — a right affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court," said John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute, in a released statement. "The rallies are part of a long tradition of free and equal participation in expressive activities guaranteed by our Constitution." [cite news
first=Lillian|last=Kwon
title=Students Encouraged to Take Prayers, Bibles to School
date=2006-09-26
work=Christian Post Reporter
url=http://parishworld.net/con_YouthLife.cfm?contentUUID=F0ED8A06-1143-E0A9-595A7F0953440D92%7C200609&arcView=Sep_2006|accessdate=2008-03-07]

In the case of "Doe v. Wilson County School System" (M.D. Tenn. 2006, pending), the ACLU alleged that a parent group promoted the SYATP event and a National Day of Prayer with support from the school. Support for SYATP was one of several religious endorsements alleged in the case, along with sing-along prayers, hymns, and a Nativity play.

References