MPR: Teacher Suspended in School Prayer Dispute

Teacher Suspended in School Prayer Dispute
By Erin Galbally
November 15, 2000

THE PRINCIPAL of Zumbrota-Mazeppa Middle School in Southeastern Minnesota will return to work tomorrow after serving a two-day suspension for refusing to attend a Veterans Day ceremony, where school officials would not allow public prayer.

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James Lehman initiated the Veteran's Day event 12 years ago. A June ruling against school prayer by the U.S. Supreme Court made prayer at this years event illegal.

"I maintain you can't factor prayer out of a Veterans Day ceremony any more than you can take a pastor out of a pulpit," says Lehman, who knew his stance would result in punishment.

Initially, Lehman was told the decision not to attend put his job at stake. A week ago the district changed its position, instead handing Lehman a two-day suspension. According to the Zumbrota-Mazeppa school superintendent, Lehman's participation in events like Veterans Day is mandatory.

"If they think tomorrow morning when I walk in the building that this is over, they're drawing the wrong conclusion," says Lehman, who plans to carry on his protest directed at laws forbidding school prayer. "If I'm the exclamation mark at the end of a sentence that says, 'It's over and we don't have to worry about it,' then I haven't accomplished anything."

The suspension follows a similar threat a year and half ago by the district after Lehman wore a What Would Jesus Do bracelet to school. Lehman is not considering legal action against the school distinct at this time. He says he has received support from First District Republican Congressman Gil Gutknecht and several veterans organizations.

Erin Galbally covers southeast Minnesota for Minnesota Public Radio. You can reach her at egalbally@mpr.org.

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