CHURCH HELP WELCOMED TO SAVE BACCALAUREATE

A baccalaureate service has been a traditional prelude to Cape Girardeau Central High School's graduation for 80 years. But a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last June has put these school-sponsored events in jeopardy.

Baccalaureates are the farewell sermon delivered to graduating classes. This non-denominational talk is commonplace at many universities, colleges and high schools. Now, a number of schools have simply abandoned the tradition, rather than face a potential lawsuit.

The Cape Public Schools may have found a sensible alternative, which would allow the service to proceed without fear of legal retribution. The Cape Girardeau Ministerial Alliance has offered to take over sponsorship of the program. Superintendent Neyland Clark met with the ministers earlier this week.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruling banned non-denom~inational prayers at graduation services. While baccalau~reates were not specifically mentioned in the ruling, schools are obviously worried about the implications since these are traditionally religious services. Although students are not required to attend, the program has been school-sponsored here. That's why sponsorship by a private organization provides a good compromise. Students can still give thanks, while the school is not legally bound by the ceremony.

We praise the Cape Girardeau Ministerial Alliance for its leadership in helping to achieve this solution. Historically, the first baccalaureates in Cape Girardeau were held at area churches. In turn, many of the congregations canceled services that day as the community celebrated together.

A baccalaureate has been a tradition in Cape Girardeau for too many years to simply abandon it. It has been part of Central High School's graduation since the district expanded instruction to the 11th and 12th grades in the fall of 1911. Ceremonies for the first class to graduate with a 12th grade education were held May 19, 1912. The program began with a baccalaureate, led by several area ministers.

The baccalaureate is more of a tradition at Cape Central than caps and gowns which were first worn in April of 1931. Basic Christian values were once an important part of a public school education. When the cornerstone of Central High School (now L.J. Schultz School) was laid in March 1915, a Bible was placed inside.

It's a shame that the courts have said religion has no place in our public schools. Graduation is an appropriate time for students to give thanks and seek guidance for the challenges ahead. We're thankful this tradition will likely continue under the auspices of the Cape Girardeau Ministerial Alliance.