School Committee Addresses 'God Bless America' Complaint

Legal counsel for Wayland Public Schools has advised that no action need be taken at this time related to a complaint about the band playing "God Bless America."

Superintendent Paul Stein told School Committee members Monday night that a parent had recently expressed "concern that on two occasions – around Pearl Harbor Day and the other around Memorial Day – the band played 'God Bless America.'"

"This parent felt strongly that this was a violation of the separation of church and state," Stein said.

Following the parent's complaint, the school system received a letter from the Freedom from Religion Foundation expressing that organization's support of the parent, Stein explained.

Upon receiving the second letter, Stein consulted with legal counsel who advised him that a response to the organization's letter was not required at this time. If the organization pursues the matter, Stein said, legal counsel advised that communication should travel directly between the Freedom from Religion Foundation and legal counsel.

For the time being, Stein said he had consulted various court cases and precedents related to the matter.

"I do in general respect the issue of the division of church and state," Stein said, adding that certain circumstances, such as a concert in which six of eight musical numbers mentioned God, would be inappropriate. "It’s a question of where the line is drawn.”

Stein said that his reading of various court cases led him to believe that the chief question is “whether the schools are fostering the promotion or practice of religion."

"I don’t believe that the band playing 'God Bless America' does that," he said, adding that the performances were musical, not lyrical, in nature. "I don’t dismiss these concerns. I respect these concerns, but I just draw the line differently. If a school system were to totally prohibit any reference to God it could actually create a hostility to God, which you’re also not allowed to do."

School Committee Chair Barb Fletcher said that there was no immediate requirement for the school system to change its practice, but that the issue would be taken under consideration during an upcoming scheduled review of the district's policy manual.

"It's such a terribly sensitive topic," School Committee member Malcolm Astley said. "We can argue it from both sides."