Religion In Public Schools

Four poems concerned with
religious coercion in public schools
By Father John R. Green
An Episcopal Poet

Copyright © by John R. Green
Shown with his blessing

- Index -

God Is In Our Public Schools

Religious Fools

A Course In
Comparative Religion

Land of the free...
Religion in schools

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God Is In Our Public Schools

God's Heart
from Pixabay

A poem deploring the concept that anything can really keep God out of public schools

I learned from
dawning childhood

Of God, the architect
of the universe,

Who holds all creation
and nature's destiny

In the palm of
His loving hand.



Now in agony a cry is heard
throughout the land,

Lamenting that a sinister
invincible is in command,

With power over God:
limiting the boundaries

Of His habitation and
keeping Him from...

entering public schools.



Remembering
my silent prayers
in public schools

Answered by God,
at times to my glowing joy,

At times to my
utter discontent.

And hearing of
similar experience from...

contemporary pupils.



In sorrow and with ridicule
I deplore

The bizarre demoting
of the supreme divine.



"How long will God be kept
from our public schools?"

Bellowed politician
Donald Dixon Dare.

All who hail his harrangue
are akin to religious fools,

As God is almighty,
He is every where!

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Religious Fools

Prayer
from Pixabay

A poem declaring Christians persecuting unbelievers as dismal religious fools

A Jewish family
settling in southern State,

Expecting some
adjustments to make;

But not eager to engage

In confronting
a public school outrage.

Eminating from Christian
prayers in public school

Which was the daily rule.



When Davy sat erect
as prayers were read,

A hostile teacher
shoved down his head.

Coming to the principal
in protesting plea,

Was told to write 125 times
"Jesus loves me."



An omen of what family
was to suspect

That Jews from townsfolks
would receive no respect.

If you Jew will not teach
your children what is true,

Our Christian public schools
will do it for you.

Keep not yourselves
in isolated seclusion,

Covert to Christianity
and escape persecution.



Standing alone
with supporters few

Eventually comforted
by the ACLU.

Persecute Jews until
Christ they accept

A dictum of Martin Luther,

...to Hitler
an auxiliary concept.

Dismal it is in public schools,

When teachers
and principals are
religious fools.

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A Course In Comparative Religion

Religion Tree
from Pixabay

A poem declaring what public schools should teach about religion

In our traditional
public schools

There is no place
for religious fools;

Teach comparative
religious courses,

Dispelling bigoted and
illiterate forces;

Keep indoctrination and
proselytizing at bay;

Simply present what
the great religions say.

We shall have
Constitutional support,

And hear no objection
from the Court.

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