Public School Prayer

[francolettieri]

I compare School Prayer to having sex during school. I understand why people have the urge and desire to do it but I say its wrong, innapropriate, you can do it in the morning, after school, and on the weekends, and if you absolutly insist on doing it in school, do it discreetly so no one notices or feels uncomfortable because of it!!!

Wouldn't it be funny if conservatives tried to legalize public school sex!!!

[jobycom]

1. That's pretty extreme. I just compare it to chewing gum in class.

[paulsby]

2. i agree, prayer in public school is fine as long as

it's done privately/silently by students. this is common before big exams.

or is solely student led, and during their free time. for example, a group of kids getting a prayer group together to do stuff during recess would be totally fine.

[bluestateguy]

3. I think official school prayers (the illegal sort) happen more than we realize

I know some people my age who insist that organized, school sponsored prayers took place when they were in public schools.

This would have been in the 1970's and 1980's, long after the USSC got rid of official school prayers.

[LuvNewcastle]

4. They did it all the time when I was in school

and I graduated in 1987. One principal in particular had the attitude that if they didn't like it, they could come arrest him. Imagine having Joe Arpaio as a principal. They had prayers over the loudspeaker before football games and even over the intercom in school. A lot of people hated it, but were afraid to stir up trouble in the mostly fundie community over the issue. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if it were still going on today.

[laconicsax]

5. Student-led prayer at official events is illegal.

Santa Fe Independent School Dist. v. Doe, 530 U.S. 290

Student-led prayer at official school events equals school-endorsed prayer, which is a violation of the Establishment Clause.

[francolettieri]

7. don't get it

I just don't understand why religious nutcases insist on it when there is so much time for prayer when school isn't in session. They just want to force it on everyone. they just can't admit it.

[laconicsax]

8. What's not to understand?

I may have misread your response. Do you mean that you don't understand the the 'why' of forcing it on everyone?

If so, I have a possible explanation. Whether it's plausible is for you to decide. I think it's plenty plausible, but I've discussed this with others who see it as possible, but unlikely.

I see a persecution complex as a common thread shared by deeply religious people (and conservatives for that matter)--they're literally paranoid that someone or something is going to float in and take everything away from them. Everything is a threat and the only way to minimize a threat is to control everything.

[StarfarerBill]

6. Pfft.

Where's the sanctimony in keeping prayer private?