Only a few days after a football coach in Arizona alleged that he was fired for encouraging his squad members to pray, a second coach at another school in the state was suspended on similar grounds. When Tom Brittain, who serves as head varsity coach at Tempe Preparatory Academy, decided to join his football squad for prayers, school officials found themselves in a fix about Brittain’s failure to observe the rules of the separation of church and state.
David Baum, headmaster at the school, thought it was only fair that Brittain be suspended for his poor decision.
“He is a man who likes to pray and I don’t object to that. Just, he can’t do that with our students. That’s the only prohibition,” said Baum. “He directed students to lead a prayer and he joined the students in that prayer and did so in view of everyone.”
According to Baum, Brittain’s suspension will help preserve the rights of those students who do not wish to participate in religious practices. Reportedly, the harsh step was taken because Brittain was aware of a revised staff handbook, which was circulated earlier this year, instructing staff members not to participate in student prayer.
Brittain’s suspension has led to a divide among parents of students as well as the local community. While some believe Brittain should not have encouraged students to engage in prayer, others believe his suspension was an outrageous decision. However, Baum clarified that Brittain understands why he was suspended and is in agreement with the school officials’ decision.
Brittain’s suspension comes only a few days after a football coach at another public school in Arizona was fired for allowing players to pray on the grounds of Catalina Foothills High School. Gary Weiss was apparently given an ultimatum by his school officials to either make students stop saying prayers or give up his job. Weiss refused to give in to the pressure and opted for the latter.
“My concern is the rights of the kids to do what is their right to do,” Weiss said.
Photo Credit: Rutgers Football
