Dylan Murray
The separation of church and state in the United States of America is a highly debated topic, especially when it comes to religion in public schools.
Generally, speeches and lectures in public schools are expected to not include religious references or calls to action, as they could be seen as exclusionary to students who do not align with those same religious views.
This is at least partially why one student in Northern Kentucky was denied his diploma after giving a speech at his high school graduation this month.
Micah Price, a graduate of Campbell County High School, was one of the speakers at his graduation ceremony. In his written speech, which was pre-approved by the school administration, Micah was permitted to thank his 'lord and savior Jesus Christ', before commencing with the rest of his speech.
However, the graduate went off-script, talking further about his faith and requesting that all the students in attendance find God alongside him.
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According to Local12, Price’s speech included the following: “He is the light, he is the way, the truth, and the life. Everyone in the audience today, I'm here to tell you if you don't have any of those things in your life, you can't seem to find the answer, my lord and savior is your answer he will give you the truth, the way, and the life."
This led to plenty of backlash, including from the administration, which withheld Micah’s diploma from him and continues to do so to this day.
"All speakers were told that going off their submitted speech, or any unplanned choices at graduation, may have repercussions as they would at any school function," Superintendent Shelli Wilson explained.
The Superintendent herself took much more issue with the breaking of the rules than what was said itself, explaining: “While I know, personally, that many of us are proud of this young man’s beliefs and are practicing Christians ourselves, the principal has to consider the possibilities of students going off the planned program.”
As for Micah Price's comments, he has been active on his personal TikTok since the graduation ceremony and has responded to the criticism he has received by once again exemplifying his faith.
"I am in the wrong technically, because I went against Campbell County code, the rules," Micah admitted before adding, “Anyone that's taking a hateful route to this I please ask just you know, take a chill pill, take a time out because in John 1, it talks about how it is absolutely impossible to say you're a Christian if you don't love your brother or your neighbor."
Despite not yet receiving his diploma, Price has officially graduated from his school and will meet with his principal at a later date to discuss obtaining his physical diploma, as well.