Happy See You at the Pole Day 2025: Standing Strong for Teachers' and Students' Rights

Today marks a powerful moment in our nation’s history as millions of students gather at flagpoles across America for the 35th annual See You at the Pole prayer event at schools. This year’s theme, “AWE,” drawn from Habakkuk 3:2, represents students praying boldly at their schools and reminds us of the profound importance of protecting religious liberty in our educational institutions.

As students join hands around flagpoles today, we at the ACLJ celebrate not just this beautiful expression of faith but also our ongoing commitment to defending those who dare to exercise their constitutional rights in the face of opposition. We are proud to stand with educators like Staci Barber, whose courage to defend religious freedom exemplifies the very spirit of See You at the Pole.

Fighting for Students and Teachers Alike

The ACLJ is currently representing Staci, a dedicated mathematics teacher with over 26 years of experience, in a groundbreaking case that strikes at the heart of religious liberty in public schools. When Principal Bryan Scott Rounds prohibited Staci from praying at her school’s flagpole on See You at the Pole Day 2023 – telling her she could not pray anywhere she would be “visible to students” – we knew we had to act.

This wasn’t just about one prayer event. Principal Rounds’ directive was sweeping and categorical: Staci couldn’t engage in any religious expression where students might see her, even before school hours. When Staci asked if she could pray with fellow teachers in the school parking lot, Rounds refused, making clear that his prohibition extended far beyond the flagpole itself. This represented exactly the type of constitutional violation the Supreme Court condemned in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District – forcing public employees to suppress their religious identity as a condition of employment.

But Staci’s case is part of a larger battle we’re fighting nationwide. Just as we defend teachers like Staci, we’re also standing with students who face similar religious discrimination. In New York, we recently represented a ninth-grade student whose Christian Bible study posters were torn down by school officials. Administrators forced her to remove Bible verses, crosses, and even change her club’s name from the “Good News Club” simply because the content was too religious for their comfort.

The parallels are striking: Both the teacher in Texas and the student in New York were told their religious expression was too visible, too obvious, too Christian for the comfort of school administrators. In both cases, officials misapplied the Constitution’s Establishment Clause, transforming it from a protection of religious liberty into a weapon against it.

Looking Forward With Hope

As students across America gather at flagpoles today, they embody the courage that makes our nation great. They remind us that religious freedom is not a privilege granted by government, but an inalienable right that predates and transcends political authority. Their willingness to stand up for their faith inspires all of us to continue the fight for religious liberty.

Thirty-five years ago, at the U.S. Supreme Court in Board of Education v. Mergens, the ACLJ argued and won on behalf of students’ rights to have Bible clubs on public school campuses and defended the constitutionality of the Equal Access Act. We’ve continued this fight ever since, standing with students in places like New York and teachers like Staci in Texas. Whether it’s protecting a fifth-grader’s right to share Bible verses or defending a long-serving teacher’s right to pray at the flagpole, we remain committed to defending religious liberty for all Americans.

The stakes in these battles extend far beyond individual cases. When we protect a teacher’s right to pray at the flagpole, we’re defending the principle that faith and public service are not mutually exclusive. When we stand with students who want to share their beliefs through Bible clubs and religious expression, we’re affirming that the next generation should grow up free to live out their convictions.

At the ACLJ, we will continue defending the constitutional rights of students, teachers, and all Americans who refuse to compromise their deeply held beliefs. Today’s See You at the Pole celebrations remind us why this fight matters: Because in America, no one should have to choose between their faith and their fundamental rights – whether they’re 15 years old or 50 years old.

Happy See You at the Pole Day 2025. May this day inspire continued courage in defending the religious liberty that makes America exceptional.