The “See You at the Pole” movement started in Texas in 1990, as a student-led religious expression. Students meet at their school’s outdoor flagpole to pray before classes begin on the fourth Wednesday of September.

Far from being a yearly spontaneous eruption of religiosity by devout public school students, the event has been carefully orchestrated by youth pastors, churches and national religious associations.

“I believe that See You at the Pole has a very positive effect on our campus,” said Hubbard. “It is a unique event that allows our students to worship God without any separation between denominations.”