Hopefully, this will be the end of this issue. I believe that the banner is of historical significance, both to Cranston West and society in general. Art comes in many different forms - to classify it as such and give it historical significance of a better value system of times past is a brilliant move. I hope the City and the ACLU can come to consensus on this. We need to move on to other matters of the City that affect ALL the citizens of this City.

Okee dokee, it's a permanent student art gallery. So nobody would have any objection to a student creating a nice big banner declaring that Allah is the only god, and Mohammad is his prophet, and that all people should submit to Islam.

Hey, it's art after all, and according to the resolution it has as much right to hang there for fifty years as that other "work of art," out of respect for the student. What's fair is fair, right?

Richard Wade.

If that were the case, the ACLU would probably not have gotten involved in the first place.

I think the mother, who was supposed to be at a meeting, not perusing the walls, should be made to pick up the tab this action is going to cost the taxpayers of the City. Apparently, the meeting was of little importance to her. Wonder if she'll be the first one to gripe when her taxes go up to pay for her "visit" to the ACLU. Now we'll pay the price because her priorities are out of whack. Instead of looking at the big picture such as the financial crisis Cranston is in, she went off on her own personal crusade. Inconsiderate, rude and selfish - I could think of a few other things, not appropriate for this forum.

@ Cranston Resident That's probably correct, but that's not what the school or its committee has done for the last half century. They have been promoting one religion in a school paid for by all taxpayers in the community. This "art" nonsense is a transparent attempt to make an end run around the law and it won't work.

@Rhodegirl If you want to blame someone for any lost funds due to lawsuits, first blame Cranston School for breaking the law for fifty years, flaunting the First Amendment, and pretending it's a private parochial school on the taxpayers' dime. Then blame the present school committee for foolishly thinking that after they have been called out for their unconstitutional practice, they can somehow weasel out of the law. Blaming the whistle blower, the person who has the courage to point out a wrong, is the activity of people who are caught doing wrong. Don't side with them.

The First Amendment should always be a priority, and religious people should be the most eager to defend and enforce it. No infringement should ever be tolerated, whether it's a recent defilement or one fifty years old. Unfortunately, the School Committee seems to think that it's okay to mix THEIR religion with government. They seem to have no concept that we are either all free, or none of us are free. If you are religious, you worship as you please BECAUSE that amendment is there. If it wasn't, you would be worshiping as the government dictates. It would not be to your liking.

Richard, as I had said in my post on an earlier forum, take off 'Our heavenly Father' and the 'Amen'. The banner itself doesn't constitute a prayer. The banner promotes good citizenship, moral values in the school community and, hopefully, will lead students to continue the practice long after they've left the school. Society would do well to abide by these words. The world is a mess, the morals of this world are getting to be non-existent. The words need to be reinforced, not done away with. Actions speak louder than words and I don't like what I see or hear about. Teaching begins in the home but in today's world, for the most part, I don't see that happening. If that banner teaches ONE child, it's accomplished its goal. Quite frankly, I am sick unto death of the ACLU, being 'politically correct' and the tree huggers of the world. The world I grew up in taught traditions, respect, discipline, morality, citizenship. Every generation has tried to do better for their kids - I know I did - but it's gotten out of control. I also don't want to hear about single parents - I was one & if anything, my kids turned out better than some coming from 2 parent families. I didn't milk the system - we had a great family support system (not monetary!!) and I brought my kids up the way I was brought up. I don't need the ACLU or anyone to tell me what the correct thing to do is.

Rhodegirl, I approve of the basic principles expressed in the banner, and I would like to see them presented to the students but not couched in a religious invocation that actually reduces their personal responsibility for living according to those principles. Here is the text of the banner:
School Prayer
Our Heavenly Father.
Grant us each day the desire to do our best.
To grow mentally and morally as well as physically.
To be kind and helpful to our classmates and teachers.
To be honest with ourselves as well as with others.
Help us to be good sports and smile when we lose as well as when we win.
Teach us the value of true friendship.
Help us always to conduct ourselves so as to bring credit to Cranston High School West.
Amen.

Here is how it could be expressed:
School Pledge
I pledge
To do my best each day.
To grow mentally and morally as well as physically.
To be kind and helpful to my classmates and teachers.
To be honest with myself as well as with others.
To be a good sport and smile when I lose as well as when I win.
To value true friendship, and be a true friend.
To always conduct myself so as to bring credit to Cranston High School West.

The students take full responsibility for their conduct, and do not rely on an entity outside of their selves to provide depth of character. This version does not give any student the implied message that they are somehow less moral than others because of their beliefs or lack of beliefs. Morality is in actions, not beliefs.

Joe Richer,
The supremacy clause in the U.S. Constitution, article VI, paragraph 2, and the 14th amendment essentially trump all state constitutions in any contradiction with the U.S. Constitution. Basically, the states are free to make their own laws that are not stipulated by the Federal Government, AS LONG AS they do not contradict principals of the U.S. Constitution. This issue has been tested and upheld several times in the Supreme Court. A few of the cases most pertinent to this controversy include:

McCollum v. Board of Education Dist. 71, 333 U.S. 203 (1948)
The Court found religious instruction in public schools a violation of the establishment clause and therefore unconstitutional.

Engel v. Vitale, 82 S. Ct. 1261 (1962) Any kind of prayer, composed by public school districts, even nondenominational prayer, is unconstitutional government sponsorship of religion.

Torcaso v. Watkins, 367 U.S. 488 (1961)
The Court held that the state of Maryland cannot require applicants for public office to swear that they believed in the existence of God. The Court unanimously ruled that a religious test violates the establishment clause.

That last case automatically made all state constitutions that had such requirements null and void in that regard. They remain on eight state constitutions because the politicians do not have the integrity or the political courage to remove them, the shameful scar of an ignorant era in their histories.

Robin - I would suggest that you read the school banner again. Look around at the world - these kids are exposed to a total lack of morals. What makes the news - pols/celebs having affairs, children out of wedlock, drugs, celebs walking away from criminal actions. If this is the morality you want your kids to look up to, that's on you. Those clowns have become their heroes so that's who they emulate.
The banner should also promote morale - keeping the school spirit up. Look it up in the dictionary. It's not the same as morals.
The contents of the banner DO NOT constitute a prayer!!!!!! Forget the heading, ending. Read the words! If you can find any mention of God, Buddha, a Higher Power, you let me know.
As for the Our Father being recited in West back in 1960, I find that difficult to believe. Time fades memories. At the time, there was a Catholic and a Protestant version. They are one and the same now.
So - before you go calling me a liar, you'd be wise to re-read said banner. You are lying to yourself if you read more into it than what is there.

Robin - going back to my e-mail, how many times did it take you write, produce and enter your cute little play about me and parking tickets??????? Maybe 10?????? Show your face by saying you're following the article (you are) but don't want anyone to reply to your silly behavior. Braveheart my butt......
FYI - Been driving since 1965 - no tix, no accidents. Just thought you'd like to know.
Bite me!!!!!

Robin - You congratulated Richard on his version. His version is essentially the same. That's what I've been saying all along.
There is no prayer in the CONTENTS of either banner. You are too quick to pull the trigger on me. You blasted me but I said the same thing Richard did. You contradict yourself. I have become your personal whipping post - what an honor!
Thank you for the gold star - I certainly deserve it because I'm a courteous driver but not some pokey old lady, either.
Yes, I understand the allegory - cute and thank you for making it about me. I truly appreciate the recognition but who's the fool?? Your time would be better spent in finding a solution to the problem instead of contributing to the problem.
God bless!!!!

Robin, go back to 3/25 and read Richard's version again and compare it to the original version. It is essentially the same. Deleting the header and ending, his version is the same with minor changes. This is what I've have been saying to you over & over & over, ad nauseum. Both the old banner and Richard's version promote good values, don't disrespect ANY religion, don't even MENTION religion nor have religious overtones.
Why you have chosen me to be your personal target is beyond me. If you take your blinders off, you can see we're on the same side.
Yes, the ACLU really needs your contribution since they were created & backed up with $$$$ from a rich socialist.
Me - I sent them a Christmas card and they're going to get an Easter card, too. Maybe I'll even fork over some $$ and send them a Spritual Bouquet for healing. They don't represent the majority OR the minority - they support their own special interests and agenda.
Your time and money would be better spent contributing to a worthy cause such as cancer research, hungry children, meals on wheels, etc. Pick a charity - there are plenty of legit organizations that could use some help, be it time or money.
Please don't bother responding - actions speak louder than words. I'm taking myself off Patch. Find someone else to beat on.
Goodbye and God bless.

Rhodegirl, I'm glad that you like my secular version of the banner's message. Although the changes seem minor, they are important. The title "School Prayer," the invocation "Our Father," the phrasing of supplication asking an outside entity to grant these qualities, and the closure with "Amen" all make this very strongly a prayer, rather than just barely a prayer. As such it is unconstitutional, illegal, and unsuitable in a public school. They're not just trifles that we should ignore.

I"m sure that others besides myself have proposed a simple rewording of the banner. Since its essential message could be so easily preserved by making these changes, but the school committee and the community refuse to make those changes, it seems clear to me that they are not really interested in promoting those values to the students, they're interested only in stubbornly KEEPING IT A PRAYER. They want to be able to impose their religious ideas onto all the students, rather than to encourage human values that could be embraced by anyone regardless of religious belief.

The reason we're a Constitutional democracy rather than a direct democracy is to protect all of us from the tyranny of the majority. Without laws that limit what the majority of a community wants to do, terrible things could be done to the minorities in any community. Imposing popular religious beliefs onto everyone should never, ever be acceptable. The freedom of all of us is at stake every time this is tried.