New school prayer

Rhoresmith · Jul 11, 2004

that is so sad isn't it !!!! don't even want to open this can of worms with comments just a big sigh!!!

elkpark · Jul 12, 2004

If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.
>>
Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice. >>
>>
For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.
>>
We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.

"Cute," I suppose, and a lot of people respond emotionally to this issue, but not v. accurate -- no one is stopping (or ever has stopped) students from engaging in silent prayer in school (what, teachers are walking up and down the aisles and yelling, "Hey, you with your head down -- you're not praying, are you?"), character education ("teaching right from wrong") is very trendy (it just can't be based on a particular religion), and the Supreme Court has ruled that students can use school property for prayer groups and Bible study that are organized and run by the students (provided that they permit the same arrangements for students of all religious groups) -- the only thing that is not permitted is the public school personnel (who are representatives of the government) promoting or imposing prayer or religious study on the students.

I am of an age that I was a public school student back when we started each school day with a mandatory Bible reading and prayer, and then when that was stopped, and I can tell you for a fact that the Bible reading and prayer meant nothing to me or any students I knew -- just another annoying "adult" thing that the school made us sit through -- and discontinuing it produced no discernible negative effect on us or the school. I'm a child and family therapist, and can tell you that there are plenty of social factors that have contributed to the wear and tear on kids and family these days, but IMO not having mandated prayer in the schools is so far down that list that it's not worth mentioning ...

I don't think it's "sad" that our Constitution guarantees all of us freedom of religion -- which must, in order to mean anything, include freedom from religion. And, no, I don't feel this way because I'm a godless heathen -- I'm an active, practicing Christian and have been all my life; but I don't think that gives me a "right" to impose my beliefs and religious practices on others and I don't care to have their beliefs and practices imposed on me. Would you be willing to have your child participate in school-led prayers to Buddha or Zarathustra or Satan? If not, then why would you expect other parents who don't share your particular set of beliefs to be willing to have their children sit through prayers that they find objectionable?

nursemike, ASN, RN · Jul 30, 2004

"Cute," I suppose, and a lot of people respond emotionally to this issue, but not v. accurate -- no one is stopping (or ever has stopped) students from engaging in silent prayer in school (what, teachers are walking up and down the aisles and yelling, "Hey, you with your head down -- you're not praying, are you?"), character education ("teaching right from wrong") is very trendy (it just can't be based on a particular religion), and the Supreme Court has ruled that students can use school property for prayer groups and Bible study that are organized and run by the students (provided that they permit the same arrangements for students of all religious groups) -- the only thing that is not permitted is the public school personnel (who are representatives of the government) promoting or imposing prayer or religious study on the students.
I am of an age that I was a public school student back when we started each school day with a mandatory Bible reading and prayer, and then when that was stopped, and I can tell you for a fact that the Bible reading and prayer meant nothing to me or any students I knew -- just another annoying "adult" thing that the school made us sit through -- and discontinuing it produced no discernible negative effect on us or the school. I'm a child and family therapist, and can tell you that there are plenty of social factors that have contributed to the wear and tear on kids and family these days, but IMO not having mandated prayer in the schools is so far down that list that it's not worth mentioning ...
I don't think it's "sad" that our Constitution guarantees all of us freedom of religion -- which must, in order to mean anything, include freedom from religion. And, no, I don't feel this way because I'm a godless heathen -- I'm an active, practicing Christian and have been all my life; but I don't think that gives me a "right" to impose my beliefs and religious practices on others and I don't care to have their beliefs and practices imposed on me. Would you be willing to have your child participate in school-led prayers to Buddha or Zarathustra or Satan? If not, then why would you expect other parents who don't share your particular set of beliefs to be willing to have their children sit through prayers that they find objectionable?

Amen. (+5more characters)