Florida School District Debates Religious Issues

February 14, 2001

Source: St. Petersburg Times

http://www.sptimes.com/News/021401/Citrus/Critic_blasts_school_.shtml

On February 14, 2001, the St. Petersburg Times reported on a debate over religious issues in a Florida school district. At a recent meeting of the School Board, a critic "blasted the board for its prayer and related issues" after Chairwoman Patience Nave opened the session with a prayer that ended with "'I pray in the name of Jesus my savior.'...The Marion County man accused Nave of using her position to promote the fundamentalist Christian Coalition agenda rather than focusing on her job." Another sticking point in the debate has been a "Fellowship of Christian Athletes party just before the Christmas break. On that day, students who were not involved in the FCA event were in class. That has prompted some critics to say that the school had actually sponsored a religious activity."