Judge considers banning African song

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla., April 29 (UPI) -- Some Florida parents are asking a federal judge to ban an African slave song from being taught at their children's school because it has religious overtones.

U.S. District Judge Harvey Schlesinger says he will rule as quickly as possible on whether the song "Chatter With the Angels" should remain part of the music curriculum at the Webster School in St. Augustine, the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville reported Wednesday.

School Board attorney Robert Sniffen told the judge the centuries old song isn't overtly religious and has secular teaching value.

But Bill Sheppard, the attorney representing parents, says "Chatter With the Angels" clearly violates the First Amendment's prohibition against establishment of a religion.

Last week, Judge Schlesinger forbid Webster School from teaching the song "In God We Still Trust" after the same parents took the school district to court.