HADDON HEIGHTS, N.J. – Every morning, students at Glenview Elementary in Haddon Heights, New Jersey assemble to say the Pledge of Allegiance, which includes the words, “one nation, under God…”

The American Civil Liberties Union does not object to that.

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But since September 11, 2001, the students have also recited three extra words after the Pledge – “God Bless America” – a tradition that started at the suggestion of two teachers who wanted to honor the victims and heroes of the terrorist attacks.

That phrase is unconstitutional – at least when the recital is led by school employees – according to the ACLU.

So a teacher can lead children in a group declaration that acknowledges the existence of God, but cannot lead them in asking for His blessing.

Hmmm.

The ACLU recently sent a letter to the school’s attorneys, reminding them that “Invoking God’s blessing as a daily ritual is unconstitutional and in violation of the Establishment Clause, since it allegedly promotes religious over non-religious beliefs, especially with young, impressionable children,” according to a news report on CourierPostOnline.com

The letter was enough to convince school officials to end the practice of having staff lead children in reciting the words, “God Bless America.”

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The school will “explore alternative methods” of honoring the victims and heroes of 9/11, and will not try to prevent students from saying “God Bless America” on their own, school Principal Sam Sassano wrote in a message to parents, according to the news report.

Ed Barocus, the NJ-ACLU’s legal director, explained in the letter to the school’s attorneys that “The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits the government not only from favoring one religion over another, but also from promoting religion over non-religion,” according to CourierPostOnline.com.

“The greatest care must be taken to avoid the appearance of governmental endorsement in schools, especially elementary schools, given the impressionable age of the children under the school’s care and authority.”

Exactly where does the U.S. Constitution say anything about varying degrees of the separation of church and state, based on different age groups? Did our founding fathers specify that government endorsement of religion is unconstitutional, but government endorsement of religion in the presence of little kids is REALLY unconstitutional?

The answer is clearly no.

In any case, the ACLU’s letter, and the implied threat of an expensive lawsuit over the issue, prompted school Principal Sam Sassano to send a general email to parents, stating that school personnel will no longer lead the students in reciting, “God bless America,” according to a report from NBCPhiladelphia.com.

“It has been our view that the practice is fundamentally patriotic in nature and does not invoke or advance any religious message, despite the specific reference to God’s blessing,” the principal wrote, according to CourierPostOnline.com.

“Whether the practice of having the students say ‘God bless America’ at the end of the Pledge of Allegiance is more akin to religious prayer or simply a manifestation of patriotism has no clear cut legal answer.”

Numerous parents told Sassano and local reporters that their children will be instructed to repeat the words, regardless of whether the ACLU likes it or not.

“We’re Christians,” a mother named Kerri Simon told the news service. “My brother is in the military, and I think it’s a really nice way to honor our country.”

“I really feel like this is taking our children’s rights away,” Debi Krezel, the mother of a sixth-grader, told the news service. “And it’s sad. I believe everyone has a right to feel the way they feel, but don’t take away my beliefs and rights.”