Prayer in Schools

 

Prayer in schools seems to have become an issue.  I don’t understand this.  Public schools do not have corporate prayer , except the “under God” part in the Pledge of Allegiance.  Students are not forced to say it..  If I am aware of or suspect a student is of another faith, I call the parents to better understand their faith and make allowable accommodations as necessary.  As a former teacher of 30+ years I prayed silently every morning before my students entered the room.  Nobody stopped me from doing that.  In Texas, every.school day started with the Pledge of Allegiance, the state Pledge, and a moment of silence.  It was up to the individual to decide what to do with that moment of silence. 

There are private schools where prayer is used, along with some rituals practiced related to the accepted faith of that private school.  I’m okay with that.  What I am not okay with is pushing my or any other faith on people whose faith may differ from mine.

This country was founded because people wanted freedom of religion.  I hope that the people of the United States of America still believe in that.

If you feel your religion requires you to proselytize, go for it.  However, please remember that public schools are educational institutions, not religious institutions, and that proselytizing is not appropriate in public schools.  We educate students of differing faiths, abilities, backgrounds, socioeconomic differences.  Public schools take and accept EVERYBODY.  For me, that is my faith in ACTION.  What’s better than that?