ryl (05/06/83)
What's wrong with a couple of minutes of silence in school? <Same Old Tired Argument> Besides the fact that it implies *Christian* prayer, it takes time out from the reason that kids are in school: education. There is a concept of separation of church and state, and as long as education falls to the state, prayer has no place. <Mildly Close-minded Flame> If prayer is so important to a child (and I can't imagine any kid between the ages of 6 and 15 who believes that without the strong prodding of parents), let him pray before school, after school, at recess, and at lunch. Those whose minds are still open should be spared the ritual. <New Question> But on the other hand, do schools have an obligation to teach (currently acceptable) moral values, and if so, are traditional religious teachings a valid way of doing so? Bob "Morals? I'm still trying to learn Pascal!" Lied ...ihnp4!ihlts!ryl BTL Indian Hill
barnes (05/09/83)
A few moments dedicated to optional prayer in school could get quite lively. Imagine a class with 3 Moslems on prayer-rugs, 4 Catholics doing Hail-Marys, 5 Jews reciting Hebrew, 6 Hari Krishnas... you get the picture. BUT, what about *silent* prayer? Well we can hardly discriminate against the many religions that only pray aloud; if we have a prayer period for Christians, we'd better cater to all faiths large enough to hire a lawyer. Besides, where's the "optional" in public prayer? A prayer period in public school invites teachers or priciples so inclined to offer "a thought" for prayer. A breach in the wall separating Church & State is like a small hole in a dike-- how long will it stay small? "Spiritual values must be taught to the child at home, since school prayer will not magically restore neglected home training. Prayer is a private conversation between the individual and his God. Can a prayer be so weak that one spoken with the family at breakfast does not last until class?" Harold Klemp, ECK NEWS, Spring '83 Klemp in his article "School Prayer: the Hidden Danger" points out that the phrase "under God" did not appear in the Pledge of Allegiance until 1954. Our national Day of Prayer, which the President is required to announce each year, was legislated as recently as 1952. Even "In God We Trust" on our coins did not appear until after the Civil War. He states that the authors of the constitution were not satisfied with mere religious toler- ance, but wanted to assure true liberty. The absolute separation of Church and State is the key to that liberty. I say, let's keep religious prefer- ance OUT of the law books and all civic matters, including school. Of course, we can still be flexible in allowing parents to excuse their child- ren from school on religious holidays, and even ex and even to excuse them from taking life in Biology lab (if that is their spriritual preferance). And, as always, recess is an oportunity for the devout child to find time to pray.