See You at the Pole

Did they See You at the Pole?  

By Hannah

As the early morning sun began to rise, a large group of students were standing in front of the school. But unlike most days, they weren’t copying homework. They were praying.

This was a common sight across the United States on September 26 as approximately one million students met in front of their schools to pray by their flagpoles. This event, also known as See You at the Pole, is a worldwide event that gives students the opportunity to pray for their schools, states, countries and peers. 

 

Sophomore Michael is a member of the Fellowship of the Christian Athletes (FCA) which organized the event. He said, “See You at the Pole is important at Jones because we do worship God in our religion, and it gives students and faculty the opportunity to teach and learn about Jesus and His Word.”

FCA sponsor Julie Adams also sees it as an important event. “Although the government sometimes limits the activity to pray in school or at school, the event allows students to express their faith,” she said.

See You at the Pole is student-led and organized. Because the law requires the separation of state and church, it cannot be led by school faculty members. Many times churches joinwith thes3e students, and youth leaders help plan the occasion.

“See You at the Pole inspires students to learn about God and also to get more involved in their community and pray,” said sophomore Micaila, another JHS FCA member.

See You at the Pole

By Cierra

If you walked up to JHS on Wednesday, September 26, you would have noticed a group of about 30 students gathered around the flagpole. But JHS students weren’t the only ones taking part in this movement. Millions of students around the world participated in an event called See You at the Pole. 

 

See You at the Pole is an annual event held on the fourth Wednesday of September in which students gather around their school’s flagpole and pray for their school, town, state, and country. Many students who engage in See You at the Pole see it as very important, “It is important because we do worship God and See You at the Pole gives us an opportunity to teach and learn about his word,” says sophomore FCA member, Michael.

In Jones See You at the Pole begins with a group breakfast of donuts and juice provided by the Jones FCA, after which the students proceed to break up into small student-led prayer groups. FCA sponsor Julie Adams describes the event as, “an opportunity for students to express their faith especially since our country seems to limit when we are able to do so.” This may seem quite casual, but in the society we live in today See You at the Pole can spark a debate on the separation of church and state, and prayer in school. There are numerous reasons why this argument has no merit.

See You at the Pole is a student-led, student-organized event. Although school faculty may advise the students taking part in the event, they in no way promote the event which solves the problem of separating the event and the promotion of religion in the school.

Another key factor in allowing See You at the Pole to continue is the fact that under current interpretations of the law regarding the free expression of students, as long as the event is held outside of school hours it is legal.

“Because it lets more people know about Jesus by preaching and allowing people to pray. It inspires students to learn more about Christ and his word,” said sophomore Micaila regarding See You at The Pole. Micaila is just one of many students around the world who feel that See You at the Pole is a vital way for students for students to exercise their right to practice their religion.