As President Donald Trump continues to take steps to safeguard prayer in public schools, including by ordering the Department of Education to release new guidance on the sensitive issue, a volunteer assistant high school football coach and school resource officer (SRO) in Clarksville, Tennessee, was removed from the coaching staff after reportedly bringing a Bible to a recent game to lead a prayer.
Needless to say, the incident has led to a heated debate in the community and beyond.
Trey Campbell, also a deputy with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, was escorted out of a Friday game at halftime by the school principal after being accused of "proselytizing to players."
Campbell has also been placed on paid leave from his SRO position at the school.
A Clarksville-Montgomery County School System (CMCSS) official said in a statement:
It’s my understanding that the concern was not with private prayer, but that the principal received a concern that an employee was proselytizing in their official capacity. We will investigate, and I can share more when that investigation has concluded. We are not able to conduct interviews or comment further until after the investigation has concluded.
The official added, in an effort to clarify the incident:
Multiple witnesses observed and video footage corroborated Campbell spending significant time throughout the game on the sidelines with players and other students, quoting scripture, holding a Bible up to spectators, and leading prayers.
According to Clarksville Now, the school district said Campbell grew "emotional and confrontational" when asked to keep his prayers private. According to officials, multiple witnesses reported that when Campbell was told to stop and put his Bible away, he raised his voice, declaring:
I can’t do it, won’t do it. My job is to save these babies.
Is it?
I ask the question, objectively: Is the job of a coach to "save these babies" during a football game, or did Campbell's behavior — assuming he behaved as reported — cross the line? Was he "offsides," as it were?
Montgomery County Sheriff John Fuson told Clarksville Now that the department “firmly stands behind any citizen who chooses to lawfully exercise their constitutional rights, including our employees.” Fuson, who described himself as a man of faith, added that he was troubled by the initial reports and how the situation appeared to have been handled.
ALSO CHECK OUT: Trump Gets Standing Ovation With Major Announcement to Protect Prayer in Schools
Tres Wittum, a candidate in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District special election, was not happy with Campbell being put on leave — in particular, why he was removed:
I have a chance to stand up and speak out for Coach Trey Campbell, and that’s exactly what I am doing. I am talking about putting the Bible in schools, and I am partnering up with President Trump to do this.
During a Monday morning visit to the Museum of the Bible, Trump said:
We’re defending our rights and restoring our identity as a nation under God, and we will always be.
So there you have it — or not.
Is there a difference between allowing students to pray in public schools or read the Bible, of their own volition, and the incident(s) involving the high school assistant football coach, as reported?
Yep, it's that time: What say you?
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