Volume 71 No. 2 orth Carolina Governor Jim Hunt visited Grimsley on Friday, Octo ber 14, to kick off his anti-vio lence pro- g r a m throughout North Caro lina schools. His visit be came a cen ter of atten- Officer Steve Roberts Pendergraft photo tion when NickAtkinson shot assistant principal Mr. Whites and then shot him self. Hunt visited the Students Against Violence Everywhere (S.A.V.E.) rally which was being held as a response to the incidents of the preceeding days. Hunt said that he was saddened by the events and that we should all work to gether to end violence everywhere. Said Hunt, "There are a lot of things we can do to help. But you need also to learn to be willing to give some time to learn some skills (in peer counseling)." e :etic Director Coach Bob Saw yer won an award as the Piedmont's premier Athletic Director. Coach Saw yer received this award at a banquet last Saturday night. Look for more informa tion about Sawyer's accomplishment in the next issue. Congratulations Coach Sawyer! CVhe Holiday Market will be held next Saturday, November 5 and Sunday November 6. Many great stocking stuffers and other Christmas (and Hanukah) gifts will be on sale. The fair is being held in the Greensboro Coliseum's Special Events Center. Check it out. Featured Inside Grimsley High School October 3 L 1994 Prayer divides Grimsley, community By Sarah Pender^^ and Anna West Reporters “I am disturbed that ftiis issue came before this Ixxfy in the first place...Stay out of it,” said David MofiE Applause echoed in the almost full County Commissioners meeting. “We’ve kind of slq^jed away fiom our mor als,” saidWA KMcman, afewnxments later.: Even louder aj^lause and a, few “Amen’s” followed. On Thursday, October 6,Guilford County Commis sioner Steve Arnold’s reso lution for prayer in school cametoavotebytheGirilfOTd County Commissioners. Commissioner Amold’sreso- lution caOed for voluntary, non-sectarian prayer to a“su-. preme moral being.” It is part of a grassroots effort across the United States to reinstate prayer. Started by a mayor in Texas, Are resolution has al ready been adopted in over' 19 North Carolina counties, including Randolph, Rockingham and Yancey. The vote came after ovef an hour of speeches by Guilford County residents, both for and against the reso lution. Grimsley’s Chan Glazman, a senior, was among the speakers present. Glazman said, ‘This (prayer in school) will just lead to more problems.” Sophomore Jessie Grandon read a letter written by Katherine Schafer, also a sopho more. “Students will be greatly affected by this, and they are not being asked,” Grandon quoted. Ninth grader RebeccaFox and tenth grader Hillary Glazman also gave speeches. Commissioner Skip Alston, wbo voted against the resolution, said, “I would be for a resolution if it could demand that prayer be put back in the homes...I’m saying leave it alone.” Commissioner Joe Wood also opposed prayer in schools. He said, “Some of you in this room have stated that you don’t want teachers teaching your children some aspects of sex education, yet you want them to teach your children to pray. This mystifies me.” On the other side of the issue was Com- misacmerRobeitMoores. “It(C(Mnmissi(mer Arnold’s resolution) allows this board of commissioners...to send a message to the sdhools, “We want God’s values tau^t in America,” said Moores. He also said,‘There are no Hebrew values not embraced in the teachings of Jesus Christ” Commissiona- Joe Bostic also voted for the resolutioa board has been quite comfortable in acting within the limits set by the courts.” As these battlelines for and against prayer in Are public schools were being drawn, heated debates erupted at Grimsley. Two groups be came a focal points, “See You at the Flag pole” and a group of students petitioning against Steve Arnold’s resolution. “See You At the Flagpole” an aimual, na- ■ Students gather around the flagpole for a prayer session on September 21. “If voluntary prayer works so well, why don’t we teach it to our children?” said Mr. Bostic. Mr. Arnold’s resolution was defeated seven to four. Commissioner Margaret Arbuckle praised the efforts of Grimsley students on the prayer in school issue, especially their speeches at the Commsioners’ meeting. “I really think that this is a beacon ofhope for the future.. .1 felt very proud of you (Grimsley). I am very exited about it,” said Mrs. Arbuckle. The Guilford County School Board sup ports the Commissioners’ decision. Chair man John Kemodle said, “The public schools have an obligation to permit the free exercise of religion and to support the sepa ration of church and state. Students and fknlty are permitted to engage in silent medi tation now,...as long as it doesn’t interfere with other students at the location... The Ghoulash fun page 2 ACC football page -11 News and Record Photo tionwide event where students and adults gather and pray for their school, themselves, and the problems students face. Senior Ja son Boone, who was at the Grimsley flagpole at 7 am. on September 21, said, “At school its hard to be a Christian because there are so many differentpeople hying to pull you away from it...Now there are so many problems at school that need to be prayed for.” There has been talk of making this morning prayer ses sion a daily event, but so far nothing has happened. Many students share this belief that prayer is important. Tony Davis, a sophomore, said, “Ithinkweshouldhaveit(prayerinschool)...it would set people out on the right foot” Ben Peterson, a freshman, said, “I think that God’s presence should be in schools.” RebeccaFoxholdsadifferentview. “I think (prayer in school) is unconstitutional, and also that a moment of silence a few minutes a day for 180 days takes away from our education,” said Fox as she passed around a petition op posing prayer in public schools. Chan Glazman andRyanRobinson, soiiors, and juniors Michael Shuman and David Hyman started the petitions in an attempt to sway the county commissioners vote. Four hundred and eighty four signatures were col lected to aid their effort. The four also orga nized arally at please see prayer page 2

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