Martin Andersen and Orlando, the City Beautiful: Growth, Power, and Division

“You write your intuition down on your paper. Fold it three times. Burn your paper into your white candle. Burn it completely and entirely to have your intention released into the universe. That itself is your ‘Light of Insight’ at work. You then cleanse the space around you once more to finalize your spell. That’s all for today, [SCHOOL MASCOT NAME]. Have a Wicked Wednesday.”

In ending the practice, Orange County Public Schools General Counsel John Palmerini admitted it happened. “We have reviewed the segment in question and confirmed that it did take place.” Palmerini said, “No further segments of this nature will take place.”

While the Liberty Counsel is famous for its defense of school prayers before football games, and Palmerini used the opportunity to make it clear that these two types of speeches are the same, meaning the District will have the same reaction, treating prayer over the loudspeakers at games the same as Witchy Wednesday.  It cannot happen, since they are both over the loudspeakers and under the direction of the school.

“Consistent with the Supreme Court’s ruling in Santa Fe, we do not want any student, whether Christian or non-Christian, to feel like they are outsiders and not full members of the political community at West Orange High School.” Palmerini wrote to the Liberty Counsel.

In its press release, Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, “We commend Orange County Public Schools for taking action to discontinue the ‘Witchy Wednesday’ video segments. Witchcraft and teaching students how to cast occultic spells have no place in government schools.”

Orange County also took umbrage with the Liberty Counsel for alerting the media well before the deadline given to rectify the situation, writing “both our organizations share the same goal to ensure that all students have their First Amendment free exercise rights respected.”