Gate City High School Students Gather for "See You at the Pole Day"

Editor’s Note: A Classical Deist Take, 2025

I support this as a student-led effort—held annually around September 18, per my best info. This 2001 piece shows kids praying post-9/11, not school dogma. As a Classical Deist in 2025, I back it—voluntary, student-driven faith aligns with reason and liberty, not coercion. The guidelines below keep it legal and fair. Forced religion’s the issue, not this. Sullivan North’s record turnout that year proves kids, not adults, owned it. —Lewis Loflin

The Article

Sullivan North’s version of the event drew a record turnout.

One by one, teenagers joined hands, closed eyes, bowed heads, and participated in an annual event Wednesday morning that carried extra weight this year. Over 150 Gate City High School students filled the campus for “See You at the Pole Day,” started 11 years ago in Burleson, Texas, letting students pray at the flagpole before classes.

At 8:05 a.m., they offered three prayers—for the country, its leaders, and teachers—then circled the pole for a devotional. “It’s sad it takes something like this to get Americans praying, but God, let your will be done. We pray your justice prevails and you guide our nation,” said junior Seth McConnell, nodding to the prior week’s terrorist attacks.

FCA President Becky Burke said morning prayer’s a daily ritual. “We’re thankful our school allows this. It’s great so many classmates joined to pray for our country,” she said. FCA Secretary Corrine Edwards noted the turnout boost—prayer group numbers had dipped last year. Vice President Sean Devlin saw hope amid heartbreak. “All things happen for a reason. We pray for the families, but good will come—more people uniting in prayer,” he said.

Youth evangelist Mike Jenkins, present that day, said his office has been busy post-9/11, comforting parents and students. He sees a shift in school prayer debates but praised Gate City’s students. “This is legal, student-led, before school starts. The administration’s great letting kids do this,” Jenkins said. “Last week was a wake-up call. We can follow rules and get God back in schools.”

The National Network of Youth, behind the “See You at the Pole” site, estimated 3 million students across all 50 states joined that Wednesday. It also runs at varying times in Korea, Australia, Canada, and Japan.

Federal Guidelines for Religious Expression in Public Schools

What are the ground rules for religious expression in public schools?

Education Secretary Richard Riley, under President Clinton, issued guidelines in 1995, updated in 1998 per court rulings. A synopsis:

Students can pray or discuss religion during school hours like any comparable activity.
Schools can set rules but can’t discriminate against religious speech.
Students may persuade peers on religion as on other topics; schools must stop harassment.
Students can join before- or after-school religious events like “See You at the Pole” on equal terms with other non-curricular activities.
Teachers and staff can’t encourage or discourage religion or join students in it.
Schools can’t teach religion but can teach about it.
Students may express religious beliefs in assignments, judged by academic standards.
Schools may excuse students from objectionable lessons, but there’s no federal right to opt out.
Schools can teach civic values, even if religions share them.
Students can wear religious messages on clothes like other messages.

Source: Kevin Simpson, “Nation Searches Its Soul” (sidebar: “Federal Guidelines”), Denver Post, February 20, 2000.

Gate City High School Students Gather for "See You at the Pole Day"

Editor’s Note: A Classical Deist Take, 2025

The Article

Federal Guidelines for Religious Expression in Public Schools

Related Resources

Acknowledgment