Royster Middle School in Chanute, Kansas, has had a painting of Jesus hanging in the hallway of the school for decades now. But it was recently removed, and that has caused all kinds of hurt feelings in this tiny town of 9,000.
The painting, Warner Sallman’s 1941 work entitled “Head of Christ,” drew fire from a national church and state separation group complained, so school adminstrators decided to take it down and avoid any further controversy.
But that only upset those who feel that Jesus is needed in the schools, even if you don’t happen to believe in him.
Erika Semey, who attended Royster Middle School over a decade ago, remarked:
“Oh man, it’s getting bad. That’s what’s wrong with this world. Not enough people have Christ in their lives.”
Chanute’s school superintendent Richard Proffitt said that he acted quickly after he received a notification from the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) that the image of Christ being displayed in a public school violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment:
“We were notified and we responded to stay in compliance.”
And Ryan Jayne of FFRF said his organization is pleased with how quickly the school system complied:
“It’s nice to have people who appreciate the law and get things done (and) who follow the law even if it’s likely to be unpopular in the community.”
Very unpopular, with some residents claiming it is emblematic of the moral decay they see in society. Cody Busby, who also attended Royster, said:
“Nobody else in the school seemed to be bothered by it. There were only one or two ‘evolution kids’ and they didn’t seem to be bothered by it. With all the bullying that goes on in schools and how all the kids divide up into cliques, I think Jesus being there didn’t hurt a thing.”
Samantha Barnhart suggested people who don’t want to look at the painting just ignore it:
“If you have the right to not participate, we have the right to keep our picture up. Just don’t look at it.”
Then again, if you want to see a picture of Jesus, no one is stopping you from having one (or one thousand) in your house, your car, even as the wallpaper on your cell phone. But of course that just makes too much sense for those who prefer the extremist route.
