Atheist plans to thank Dist. 214 school board tonight

Atheist Rob Sherman will attend tonight's Northwest Suburban High School District 214 school board meeting - just to say thanks.

"They're providing my daughter with a fine secular education," said Sherman, a Buffalo Grove resident. "I want to thank them for that."

Sherman's daughter, Dawn Sherman, is a freshman at Buffalo Grove High School and a member of the student council. Recently, she spoke out against having "God Bless America" on the school's homecoming song list.

The council agreed.

The song was removed from the list, according to District 214 spokeswoman, Venetia Miles. There are 45 members of the Buffalo Grove High School student council. Sherman is one of 10 freshman members.

"I just saw it on the list, and asked them to take it out," said Dawn, who is 14 years old. "The songs should be secular."

Kevin Cuttone, a veteran of the Air Force, is not happy with the decision to eliminate "God Bless America." The song deserves to be heard, especially when there is a war going on, he said.

"I think the district is intimidated by Mr. Sherman," said Cuttone, an Arlington Heights resident whose children graduated from Buffalo Grove. "His daughter is only a freshman. We could be in for a long four years."

But her father, Rob Sherman, the famed suburban atheist, is beaming.

"I just couldn't be more proud," said Sherman, who lives in Buffalo Grove. "My daughter got God banned from homecoming this year."

Since the mid-1980s, Sherman has battled to keep church and state separate. He's become somewhat famous for filing challenges to remove crosses from municipal logos, the word God from public property and public funding for the Boy Scouts because they exclude atheists.

His other child, Ricky, quietly attended Buffalo Grove High School without touting atheist beliefs. Today, Ricky is 25 years old.

Despite her dad's pride, Dawn said she didn't object to the song just to please him.

"I'm not as outgoing as he is," Dawn said. "Really, the last thing I want to be is just like my father."

Dawn is also a member of Students Against Destructive Decisions - formerly Students Against Drunk Driving - and the Gay Straight Alliance at Buffalo Grove High School.

Dawn Sherman isn't sure if there are other District 214 policies she's objects to.

"I don't see anything yet, but I'll keep my eye out," she said.

The District 214 school board meeting will be at 7 p.m. tonight at the Forest View Educational Center, 2121 S. Goebbert Road in Arlington Heights. There is a public comment period on today's agenda.