Graduation prayer tradition terminated at high school after parent complains ceremony 'too Christian'

A Facebook debate started on May 26 fixes the spotlight on Pottsgrove High School's decision in August to terminate its tradition of prayer during commencement exercises after a parent complained that last year's program was too Christian.

Shortly before this year's graduation, the school's current and former board members engaged in a public discussion started by the school's former board president Justin Valentine. Valentine shared a controversial link on their Facebook page, Pottsgrove Discussion Group, which was immediately removed by the current board President Rick Rabinowitz.

Valentine's link was an article about another public school that was threatened with a lawsuit by an atheist organization if they would not discontinue their 70-year-old tradition of singing the "Lord's Prayer" during commencement exercises. This year's graduating class of East Liverpool High School, led by the class valedictorian, boldly defied the atheists by reciting the "Lord's Prayer" instead.

Rabinowitz said that the post wanted to incite the Christian students of Pottsgrove to imitate the class act of East Liverpool while Valentine accused Rabinowitz of suppressing the discussion with the post's removal.

"Parents and students of other religions do not come to graduation to attend a Christian religious service," wrote Rabinowitz. "They are there to celebrate the accomplishments of their students."

Valentine shot back, "Let's be honest here, this has nothing to do with the law, it has to do with personal preference. And you are using the solicitors words as a cover for personal preference."

Rabinowitz disclosed in an interview with Fox 29 that a parent lodged a complaint when a student invoked Jesus Christ in last year's ceremony.

Superintendent Shellie Feola also told The Mercury, "Last year's was much more specifically religious than anything I had heard at Pottsgrove before. I myself was kind of taken aback by the prayer."

Feola then said that they came up with the decision after they researched and consulted with the district's Solicitor Marc Davis that proved their practice to be illegal since the commencement is a government-sponsored event.

The school has decided to review its decision on a public meeting a few days before their graduation ceremony on June 15.