Football Coach Prays With Team, Gets SUSPENDED By High School

[IhartU]

Football Coach Prays With Team, Gets Fired By High School

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By Kathryn Schroeder, Mon, September 22, 2014

An Arizona high school football coach has been suspended because he prayed with his team.

Head varsity coach, Tom Brittain, participated in prayer with his players at state-funded charter school Tempe Preparatory Academy.

Concerns were raised by school officials over the separation of church, and state and the response by headmaster Dr. David Baum was to suspend Brittain, reports The Blaze.

Brittain’s suspension will last two games.

"He is a man who likes to pray and I don't object to that," said Baum to KPHO. "Just, he can't do that with our students. That's the only prohibition."

The suspension came after a recent game where Brittain prayed in plain sight of everyone with his team.

"He (Brittain) directed students to lead a prayer and he joined the students in that prayer and did so in view of everyone," said Baum. "I think I preserved the religious freedom of our students, who have to have the liberty to be able to practice or not practice their religion on our campus, without interference by adults.”

There are parents and students who disagree.

A sign was hung by a group of students at the recent homecoming game that read, “'We Believe' in Coach Brittain" as a show of support for the suspended coach.

Parent of an alumnus, Keith Wibel, wore a shirt to the game that read, “Let Tom coach.”

"I think it's outrageous," Wibel said. "Ray Rice gets two games for cold-cocking his fiancé and Tom Brittain gets two games for praying."

There are those who support the headmaster’s decision.

"The school is not a religious school," said John Hicks. "It's a regular school. So, it's against the bylaws to in order for him to pray. It's not that he's a bad coach. But, you have to go by the bylaws in anything that you do."

Brittain has declined to comment on the situation to the media. He has been a at teacher Tempe Preparatory Academy for 17 years, and a coach for 12. He will return to coaching after the two game suspension.

Photo Source: KPHO

- See more at: http://www.opposingviews.com/i/religion/high-school-suspends-coach-praying-team#sthash.xSqtC5lG.dpuf

[numbr1wmn]

WOw. What a bunch of ASSHOLES.

[FromAtoZ]

I wonder how long he has been praying with the team.  If, in fact, he has for years, I have to wonder why now.

Also, he did go against the bylaws.

It is sad to see someone who appears to be a good teacher, and coach, leave any school after so long.  I also wonder if he refused to pray with the team again, therefore the firing.

[FromAtoZ]

Quoting numbr1wmn:

WOw. What a bunch of ASSHOLES.

I wouldn't go that far.

There are rules and he was aware of the rules.

But like I said, I do wonder how long he had been praying with the teams before someone said something.  I can't imagine it wasn't known up until now if he had been praying with the teams for years.

You can't lead students in prayer.  

[Woodbabe]

That sucks! I wonder if the students were leading the prayer and he simply joined in, if it would be okay? Sounds like because he LED the prayer he broke the rules.

[Woodbabe]

I'd also like to add that he's setting a good example for his team...he broke the rules and he's taking his punishment like a man. Good job!

ETA: The headline is misleading. Two game suspension and then he's back. He's not FIRED.

[IhartU]

 WHY do Christians think it's okay to violate the Constitution, by-laws and the Rights of others?

 If you want to pray- then pray but if the law says you cannot lead the students in prayer then DON'T- it's THAT simple! Stop being so damn arrogant as to think just because you're a Chritisn American, you can ignore everything our Country stands for and do whatever the hell you want.

[numbr1wmn]

 Maybe but I am sick of hearing about this shit.

Quoting FromAtoZ:

Quoting numbr1wmn:

WOw. What a bunch of ASSHOLES.

I wouldn't go that far.

There are rules and he was aware of the rules.

But like I said, I do wonder how long he had been praying with the teams before someone said something.  I can't imagine it wasn't known up until now if he had been praying with the teams for years.

You can't lead students in prayer.  

 

[FromAtoZ]

Quoting Woodbabe:

I'd also like to add that he's setting a good example for his team...he broke the rules and he's taking his punishment like a man. Good job!

ETA: The headline is misleading. Two game suspension and then he's back. He's not FIRED.

Good point.

[FromAtoZ]

Quoting numbr1wmn:

 Maybe but I am sick of hearing about this shit.

Quoting FromAtoZ:

Quoting numbr1wmn:

WOw. What a bunch of ASSHOLES.

I wouldn't go that far.

There are rules and he was aware of the rules.

But like I said, I do wonder how long he had been praying with the teams before someone said something.  I can't imagine it wasn't known up until now if he had been praying with the teams for years.

You can't lead students in prayer.  

What do you mean?

We all know about Separation of Church and State.  This isn't a religious school.  There are bylaws that every teacher is aware of.

[romalove]

No, it wouldn't be OK. He cannot even take a knee if they are in prayer circle. He can pray separately from the team.

Quoting Woodbabe:

That sucks! I wonder if the students were leading the prayer and he simply joined in, if it would be okay? Sounds like because he LED the prayer he broke the rules.