Image Credit: Jefferson County Schools, TN / YouTube.
Article by David Seal, Tennessee Conservative News –
Jefferson County School Board has joined a growing number of school districts across the state that have decided to open their meetings with a prayer instead of a “moment of Silence.”
A recent bipartisan bill passed by the Tennessee Legislature has opened the floodgates for school boards to act on this issue.
On a unanimous vote (7-0), the Jefferson County School Board decided to include an opening prayer on the agenda to start board meetings.
For years, liberal school board attorneys have cautioned their respective boards about having prayer at meetings. Conversely, constitutional conservative board attorneys have advised boards that prayer at public meetings does not violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
In a long string of U.S. Supreme Court cases, the high court has upheld religious freedom, many of which involved religious expression and religious practices within educational environments. Two case decisions approved expending public funds on educational institutions that are religiously affiliated and that teach religion. Those cases are Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue and Carson v. Macon, respectively.
Other cases cleared the path for prayer in public meetings and public events, provided that attendees were not coerced into participation, and that a personal prayer offered by a school system employee after a football game, did not violate the Establishment Clause. Those cases were Town of Greece v. Galloway and Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, respectively.
Those cases didn’t stop anti-prayer activists from trying to fool school districts into not having an opening prayer. Many such groups used a long-overturned case from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court, Coles v. Cleveland Board of Education. Coles relied on the 1971 Lemon v. Kurtzman decision. Once Kennedy neutralized Lemon, Coles was no longer good case law.
It took a groundswell of citizen activists and a bold act of the Tennessee Legislature to finally convince school system attorneys that private non-coercive prayer at school board meetings does not violate the U.S. Constitution.
The “Tennessee Religious Freedom Act” of 2026 provided Tennessee school boards the power to begin their meetings with a prayer. A link to the act is provided here, Public Chapter 710.
Public Chapter 710 is the result of HB 1834 / SB 1957. Jefferson County’s State Senator Jessie Seal was a co-sponsor and issued the statement below, prior to the school board vote.
Board Member Michelle Jinnette read Seal’s letter to the board during discussion of the prayer issue. She was the board member that made the motion to approve prayer at meetings, seconded by Board Member Paul Hardy.
Citizens also supported prayer at school board meetings with their comments during the Public Input portion of the agenda.
“Again, I would like to thank this Board for considering restoring prayer to the start of School Board meetings. Prayer, and God, are sorely needed in our world today. At Monday’s meeting, it was suggested that prayer was removed at the start of meetings over concerns that impressionable youth may be present. In fact, it was not concern over our youth that caused removal of prayer, but fear of expensive lawsuits by groups and individuals. I can assure you that seeing and hearing an adult say a prayer at the start of a meeting asking a higher power for a blessing will not damage today’s youth. I attend many public meetings in this county. There are often children in attendance. Prayer at these meetings has been going on for years, and there have been no adverse effects to date. Please restore prayer at the start of your meetings.” – said Marian Knight, Retired 7th Grade Teacher
“On school prayer, it’s important in the courthouse and the schoolhouse. I believe teachers and principals should be encouraged to have prayer in school every day. Prayer fosters confidence in elders for children. They realize that you answer to higher power and that you want wisdom from on high. All wisdom comes from God, not from colleges and universities. They provide knowledge. Knowing how to use that knowledge comes from God. You are in powerful position. You handle a lot of responsibility. You answer to hundreds of teachers and students and provide guidance. You will help turn this county around if you will have prayer at the beginning of every meeting. I believe the public wants this. They want to know their leaders want wisdom from on high. The students will be guided as well. It will have a snowball effect. I taught for 30 years in Jefferson County schools. That was where the Lord wanted me, and it was a good career.” – said William Caldwell, Retired Teacher
The “Tennessee Religious Freedom Act” originated in Jefferson County, Tennessee with Resolution 2025-47, requesting, in part, that the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee empower school boards to open their meetings with a prayer.
About the Author: David Seal is a retired Jefferson County educator, recognized artist, local businessman, 917 Society Volunteer, and past Chairman of the Jefferson County Republican Party. He has also served Jefferson County as a County Commissioner and is a citizen lobbyist for the people on issues such as eminent domain, property rights, education, and broadband accessibility on the state level. David is also a 2024 winner of The Tennessee Conservative Flame Award & has received an accolade from the Institute For Justice for successfully lobbing the TN legislature to protect property rights. David can be reached at david@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
One Response
GOOD!! They NEED to stop hiring dimmercraps.