Tag Archives: Taconic Hills Central School District

A middle school student in New York who was told she could not include religious references in her graduation speech is appealing an adverse judicial decision. 

The student, whose name has been withheld, was the co-president of her 8th grade graduating class in the Taconic Hills Central School District in Craryville, New York.  She chose to include a blessing at the end of her address, which school officials decided “sounded too religious.” 

The student  paraphrased Numbers 6:24-26 in saying:

“As we say our goodbyes and leave middle school behind, may the Lord bless you and keep you, make His face