By Ben Robinson
Staff Reporter

brobinson@thepccourier.com

COUNTY — The Pickens County School Board of Trustees turned away a proposed ordinance that would lead to board meetings including public prayers by local members of the ministry.

The policy failed with a 3-3 vote, with board members Judy Edwards. Dr. Brian Swords and Dr. Herbert Cooper voting against it. Alex Saitta, Phillip Bowers and Dr. Henry Wilson voted for the policy.

Swords compared the district’s situation to when as a child he used to take walks with his father, and they would find a snake in their path. Later, as a teenager he tried to deal with the snake, but found its bites dangerous and perhaps deadly.

“Sometimes it’s better to walk around the snake,” he said.

Saitta said he felt the large crowd gathered for the meeting was evidence of support for the policy.

“I can’t think of an issue that has more support in my district,” Saitta said. “The people want the school board to start their meetings with an invocation where the person giving the prayer is free to pray according to the dictates of his own conscience and without government restriction. The people of Pickens County want our school board to pass this policy because it shows their government purposely and officially support that constitutional right of freedom of religious expression.”

Swords worried the resolution would bring scrutiny on Pickens County.

“While it is well-intentioned, this policy would bring monumental scrutiny on our district,” Swords said.

Saitta said the district’s current policy allowing non-sectarian prayers is not enough.

“Having a board member give a non-sectarian prayer has not satisfied the people, because our current school board policy restricts how the board members can pray, and the community resents that,” he said. “And having a public input section where a pastor may or may not sign up to exercise his right to freely pray leaves it to chance this right will be exercised, and that isn’t good enough for the people either.

“We should always strive to give the public what it wants, but as trustees of the public we also have to ensure the public is not exposed to undue risk. We’ve done that with this policy.”

Saitta said the proposed policy has been approved by two rulings of the U.S. Supreme Court.

“Marsh vs. Chambers in 1983 states a deliberative or legislative body can start its meetings with a prayer.” Saitta said. “Greece, N.Y., vs Galloway in 2014 states a local clergy can give the invocation according to the dictates of his own conscience without any interference or editing from government.”

Edwards said she thought it would be “very irresponsible and selfish of this board to subject our students to what they would be subjected to if we passed this policy.”

“They would be scrutinized in everything that they do, and that’s not fair to our students,” she said. “We were placed on this board for our students ad our teachers. We’re supposed to support them, and we’re supposed to look out for what is best for them.

“And this would not be best for them.”

Edwards said prayer is part of her work on the school board.

“I pray every time I sit down in this chair,” Edwards said. “I pray that I will do the right thing, in the right way, for our students. Do I always en my silent prayers with ‘In Jesus’ name?’ No, I do not. And I don’t think you always do. And does God still hear me? In my opinion, yes.”

Edwards said she has used her religious beliefs to guide her on the issue.

“I know who my God is,” she said. “And I could not possibly vote for this policy and subject our students to what they would be subjected to if it passes.”

Bowers questioned Swords for implying that teachers had no rights guaranteed by the First Amendment.

“Teachers have First Amendment rights, but it’s a very slippery slope,” Swords said.

Bowers said he would support the resolution.

“I don’t see any problem at all with what’s being proposed,” Bowers said.

Wilson said his vote would be inspired by concern for his two children.

“I’ve got two kids,” Wilson said. “And the majority of what I spend my time on with them is about standing up for what you believe in and character, things like that. I can recall many conversations with them about not acting out of fear of what somebody else will do, making decisions for yourself, making decisions for what’s right for your future and your family.”

Wilson was concerned about asking teachers to be religious leaders in the schools.

“I’m the religious leader in our family,” Wilson said. “And to think that every teacher is going to share my beliefs, I think that’s a false idea. We ask them to obey the rules. Follow the policy. To be moralists.

“To be role models.”

Wilson said he told his son he was going to vote for prayer at the meeting that night because the people who elected him overwhelmingly are for it.

He said even if he wasn’t a Christian, out of respect for those people, he would have to vote for prayer.

“Even the people who threaten to sue us have the right to their own beliefs, and they have the right to speak openly,” Wilson said. “When I go home, I’ll tell my son, ‘Son, it failed because people didn’t have the courage to stand up for our rights to practice faith, to practice freedom of speech.”

COUNTY — The Pickens County School Board of Trustees turned away a proposed ordinance that would lead to board meetings including public prayers by local members of the ministry.

The policy failed with a 3-3 vote, with board members Judy Edwards. Dr. Brian Swords and Dr. Herbert Cooper voting against it. Alex Saitta, Phillip Bowers and Dr. Henry Wilson voted for the policy.

Swords compared the district’s situation to when as a child he used to take walks with his father, and they would find a snake in their path. Later, as a teenager he tried to deal with the snake, but found its bites dangerous and perhaps deadly.

“Sometimes it’s better to walk around the snake,” he said.

Saitta said he felt the large crowd gathered for the meeting was evidence of support for the policy.

“I can’t think of an issue that has more support in my district,” Saitta said. “The people want the school board to start their meetings with an invocation where the person giving the prayer is free to pray according to the dictates of his own conscience and without government restriction. The people of Pickens County want our school board to pass this policy because it shows their government purposely and officially support that constitutional right of freedom of religious expression.”

Swords worried the resolution would bring scrutiny on Pickens County.

“While it is well-intentioned, this policy would bring monumental scrutiny on our district,” Swords said.

Saitta said the district’s current policy allowing non-sectarian prayers is not enough.

“Having a board member give a non-sectarian prayer has not satisfied the people, because our current school board policy restricts how the board members can pray, and the community resents that,” he said. “And having a public input section where a pastor may or may not sign up to exercise his right to freely pray leaves it to chance this right will be exercised, and that isn’t good enough for the people either.

“We should always strive to give the public what it wants, but as trustees of the public we also have to ensure the public is not exposed to undue risk. We’ve done that with this policy.”

Saitta said the proposed policy has been approved by two rulings of the U.S. Supreme Court.

“Marsh vs. Chambers in 1983 states a deliberative or legislative body can start its meetings with a prayer.” Saitta said. “Greece, N.Y., vs Galloway in 2014 states a local clergy can give the invocation according to the dictates of his own conscience without any interference or editing from government.”

Edwards said she thought it would be “very irresponsible and selfish of this board to subject our students to what they would be subjected to if we passed this policy.”

“They would be scrutinized in everything that they do, and that’s not fair to our students,” she said. “We were placed on this board for our students ad our teachers. We’re supposed to support them, and we’re supposed to look out for what is best for them.

“And this would not be best for them.”

Edwards said prayer is part of her work on the school board.

“I pray every time I sit down in this chair,” Edwards said. “I pray that I will do the right thing, in the right way, for our students. Do I always en my silent prayers with ‘In Jesus’ name?’ No, I do not. And I don’t think you always do. And does God still hear me? In my opinion, yes.”

Edwards said she has used her religious beliefs to guide her on the issue.

“I know who my God is,” she said. “And I could not possibly vote for this policy and subject our students to what they would be subjected to if it passes.”

Bowers questioned Swords for implying that teachers had no rights guaranteed by the First Amendment.

“Teachers have First Amendment rights, but it’s a very slippery slope,” Swords said.

Bowers said he would support the resolution.

“I don’t see any problem at all with what’s being proposed,” Bowers said.

Wilson said his vote would be inspired by concern for his two children.

“I’ve got two kids,” Wilson said. “And the majority of what I spend my time on with them is about standing up for what you believe in and character, things like that. I can recall many conversations with them about not acting out of fear of what somebody else will do, making decisions for yourself, making decisions for what’s right for your future and your family.”

Wilson was concerned about asking teachers to be religious leaders in the schools.

“I’m the religious leader in our family,” Wilson said. “And to think that every teacher is going to share my beliefs, I think that’s a false idea. We ask them to obey the rules. Follow the policy. To be moralists.

“To be role models.”

Wilson said he told his son he was going to vote for prayer at the meeting that night because the people who elected him overwhelmingly are for it.

He said even if he wasn’t a Christian, out of respect for those people, he would have to vote for prayer.

“Even the people who threaten to sue us have the right to their own beliefs, and they have the right to speak openly,” Wilson said. “When I go home, I’ll tell my son, ‘Son, it failed because people didn’t have the courage to stand up for our rights to practice faith, to practice freedom of speech.”