Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, November 26, 1993 TAG: 9311260054
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: JACKSON, MISS. LENGTH: Medium
Bishop Knox announced his dismissal as principal of Wingfield High School after a meeting Wednesday with Jackson School Superintendent Ben Canada.
Canada refused to comment, saying he can't discuss personnel matters. But he made it clear that the district must follow a 1962 U.S. Supreme Court decision banning school-supported prayer as unconstitutional.
"We are governed by law and as long as those laws are on the books, we must follow them," Canada said.
Knox, 38, was placed on paid administrative leave Nov. 11 for allowing the prayers for three days beginning Nov. 9. Students had voted 490-96 for the prayer. Wingfield, one of the city's largest schools, has about 900 students.
Knox, in his second year as principal, would not say if he plans to fight the dismissal, but added he had no regrets about his decision to let the president of the Student Council read the prayer.
The suspension touched off an uproar. Dozens of parents and supporters called the School Board. The state's largest newspaper, The (Jackson) Clarion-Ledger, on Wednesday had nearly a full page of letters on the controversy.
Wingfield freshman Adam Watson, 14, suspended for three days for walking out of school to protest Knox's suspension, organized a downtown rally of support.
"I just thought we should do something," said Watson, who will return to school Monday. "The phone calls have flooded in. They're behind me 100 percent."
The prayer the student read said: "Almighty God, we ask that you bless our parents, teachers and country throughout the day. In your name, we pray. Amen."
by CNB