So Be It. An email I received

[Tigger_Magic]

However, there is not a child in America that is prevented in any way, shape or form from praying in school, during school, before school, after school. They can pray as much and as often as they like. In fact, I imagine during exam week, there's a whole lotta praying going on!

 

[RUDisney]

Children are much more impressionable than adults and at younger ages may not be able to draw the distinction between a "moment of silence" and a "moment of silence for prayer." Adults are able to understand this distinction. Therefore, it is not allowed in schools to protect younger children.

Children are not prohibited from admitting that they participate in organized religion. There is no global "gag rule" on any child talking about their religion or faith. The restriction is on adults leading activities that could easily be used to proselytize.

Yep, we should definitely protect all children from religion! How dare we think that some of them might have already come in with faith. We must get rid of it NOW! Give me a break.

Our school acts like there is a gag rule on talking about religion. The administration cringes when students mention that they have to go to religious studies on Tuesdays. Parents are made to feel stupid when they want to make sure dismissal is on time on Tuesdays so their children can get to catechism. It is almost as if dismissal is delayed on Tuesdays to show parents that religion is not important. The school is more important.

 

[Planogirl]

Why should there be a group moment of silence at school each day? While I don't think it's that big a deal, in reality children can pray at any time and no on can stop them. Prayer doesn't have to be a group effort.

 

[RUDisney]

They play the National Anthem and say the Pledge of Allegience every day. Why not have a moment to reflect on the day ahead at that point? I see no harm in it. None. Nada.

BTW, the National Anthem irks me at our school only because it is such a bad recording on a bad PA system. It hardly seems worth going through that motion each day.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Yep, we should definitely protect all children from religion! How dare we think that some of them might have already come in with faith. We must get rid of it NOW! Give me a break.

Our school acts like there is a gag rule on talking about religion. The administration cringes when students mention that they have to go to religious studies on Tuesdays. Parents are made to feel stupid when they want to make sure dismissal is on time on Tuesdays so their children can get to catechism. It is almost as if dismissal is delayed on Tuesdays to show parents that religion is not important. The school is more important.

Children are not protected from religion... they are protected from those adults who seek to proselytize through the schools.

I am a Christian and wholeheartedly support efforts to share the Good News with as many people as possible. At the same time, I support the separation of religion from school. I don't ask or expect my church to teach my 2 DDs math, science, English, geography, etc. just as I don't expect their school to teach them about our faith/beliefs. Two separate institutions with two very different roles in our family's life.

I believe it is each parent's decision on when, how and how much exposure their children have to religion as well as to what religion, if any at all. That should not be the decision of some stranger or board of education. I don't teach my daughters that other religions are "wrong" or "evil" or "right" or "good." I wouldn't want their school teaching them that either... or a well-meaning parent, teacher, principal, counselor, or whomever.

I don't see this as school VS. church/religion, but rather school AND church/religion. They are two separate, but equal pillars in my family, each having it's own role and place, each being equally important to us. However, I respect that other families may have different opinions or values. We strive to respect and honor those differences, even if we don't agree with them. That, for me, is the crux of the issue.

 

[va32h]

Last time I checked, moments of silence are not offered in school because it could promote prayer

So you checked every school? The school my children attend does have a moment of silence. They also celebrate Christmas (and Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa).

It is foolish to declare that "no school" allows moments of silence or mention of Christmas, unless you've contacted every school to verify this is true.

And we haven't even brought up the point that any restrictions against organized prayer apply to publicly funded schools. You want your kids to pray in school? Send 'em to a private school and they can pray themselves hoarse.

I am also lost on the money issue - has the US Treasury stopped printing bills and coinage with "In God We Trust" on them? Are the old bills/coins being removed from cancellation? If so, it's news to me - the media really needs to jump on that story.