Religion in Schools

Years ago, when she was a high school student, my cousin wrote a letter to the editor opposing prayer in public schools. You have to know that our family was not a hot-bed of radicals. We were pretty much middle of the road to moderately conservative. We were all church goers. Church and school were the two major institutions that our lives revolved about. The Chicago public schools didn't have any religious exercises in classes, so prayer in school wasn't an issue anyone thought about until the Supreme Court decision of Engel v. Vitale which prohibited prayer in public schools. Suddenly, all sorts of people who had never noticed whether there was or wasn't prayer in schools started making a fuss about things.

My father disagreed with his niece's letter. I've tried to figure out why since there hadn't been prayers said while he was in school in the 1930s either. I think my father was typical of many people of his generation. He believed there should be freedom of religion in the sense that no one could tell you what religion to practice, but he didn't see any intrinsic conflict between religion and government. They worked together to make things better. Then too, people didn't think of schools as being the government. Oh sure, they knew that taxes supported the schools and the school board was appointed by government officials, but the local school was just part of the community, not really the government. Somehow the Supreme Court telling a school they couldn't have prayers was the same as telling you what you could or couldn't do in your own home or church.

The other factor at work with my dad was that the principle separation of church was just too theoretical to be of importance to him. Dad was a practical man with little for things theoretical. For example, Dad didn't care anything for theories of education. The schools should just teach what they were supposed to teach and that was that. He didn't give much regard to theology either. He was in a study group at church where there was a lengthy discussion of justification by faith, a central belief of Lutherans. Dad had been a member of the Lutheran church since his confirmation, yet he had no awareness of this belief. As far as he was concerned, Christianity was about doing the right things and then going to heaven.

Now I was impressed by my cousin's letter. I accepted what she wrote since she was a lot smarter than I was. I know that for a fact because several teachers had told me I wasn't as smart as my cousin. Anyway, her views certainly influenced me. I now agree that imposed prayer has no place in public schools because I have thought through the matter logically, but it was my cousin who sent me in the right direction. Thanks, Darlene.

Schools are part of the government, and I don't want the government imposing any religious beliefs or practices on anyone. I don't want them to make anyone pray, or listen to scriptures being read, or even force people to look at the Ten Commandments. Many people don't agree with me. I wish they could see how dangerous this sort of thing is.

Now I know some people who are absolutely furious that one congressman took the oath of office on the Koran. How dare he! That reveals the real issue. Some people want to use the force of government to impose religious activities only if it is their form of religion. Maybe if the schools required a reading from the Tao Te Ching or made people chant the Vedas, they'd see the point. But maybe not.

Some time back there was some fuss at our local elementary school because one teacher would not allow the children in her class to have birthday parties at school. No bringing of treats allowed. It wasn't a matter that she was trying to keep the children focused on education, but rather it violated her own religious beliefs that prohibited the celebration of birthdays. It was wrong of her to impose her religious views on others. Interestingly, the most vocal critic or her actions was someone who advocates starting the school day with prayers said aloud in class. There's the problem. I want to be free to impose my religious views, but you must be prohibited from imposing yours. The only solution is to deny anyone the right to impose religious views

I also believe people, including students in public school, have a right to exercise their religion. If they want to say grace before they eat at school, they should do so without interference as long as they don't disturb anyone else. If several of them want to pray and it is an appropriate time, like before school or at lunch time or after classes, leave them alone. If they want to bring Bibles or other religious books to school, that should be allowed. If their religious practice requires that they cover their heads, that should be permitted. If they mention religion in an essay and it is otherwise appropriate, there should be no penalty. Certainly no teacher should do what one did to a young person from my church–demand that they prove that God exists. That's a subject for philosophy of religion, not biology.

There has to be a sensible middle ground where children are neither coerced into religious observances or forbidden to practice them. Just stop all the fussing and teach your children at home and at church the value of prayer, and they will pray. Besides, who's to know whether or not they are praying when they are sitting at their desks waiting for the final exams to be passed out? Why is it so important that prayer be done aloud in a public place when our Lord himself instructs us to pray to our Father in secret?

I don't suppose I'll convert anyone to my position, but if we used the time we waste arguing about prayer in schools to do some praying, we might be better off.

May the Lord bless you on your way and greet you on your arrival.

Wayne