School bans motto with religious reference

Sun., Jan. 13, 2008

Associated Press The Spokesman-Review

BLUE RIVER, Ore. – Despite the connection to the school mascot, a rural school district has banned a proposed motto for a graduating class because it contains a religious reference.

Some of the 90 seniors at McKenzie High School had been inspired by a Bible verse quoted at the August funeral of a classmate killed in an all-terrain vehicle accident.

The verse, Isaiah 40:31, reads, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles.”

It was read at the memorial service for Ryan Snapp, who died Aug. 10 after hitting a tree in the alcohol-related crash.

The students deleted any references to God in the proposed motto based on the verse and the school mascot name, the Eagles.

But McKenzie School District officials rejected the motto as too religious: “They that believe shall mount up with wings as eagles.”

Brianna Rux, 17, one of the seniors, disagreed with the decision and wrote a guest opinion in the Register-Guard protesting it.

She said the verse seemed particularly fitting, given the mascot name and that class members have pulled together to rise above their grief.

“Ourselves being Eagles, it seemed a good way to describe who we are that no matter what we believe in, we can overcome,” she told the Eugene newspaper on Friday.

McKenzie school Superintendent Sally Storm said the owner of the company publishing the high school graduation announcements recognized the motto as part of a Bible verse and called the school district office.

Storm said she called Bruce Zagar, the school district’s attorney, to get a legal opinion.

“My duty is to follow the law in this case – the U.S. Constitution – which doesn’t allow public schools to either interfere with the practice of religion or establish a religious practice,” she said.

Zagar told the newspaper that simply omitting the reference to God from the verse doesn’t alter its origin.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.