The school
year has almost arrived. This seems like a good moment to revisit that
continually confused and confusing issue, prayer in schools.
There is a great deal of misinformation and
misunderstanding of what kind of prayer is permitted in the public schools of
the
What kind
of prayer is allowed in a public school?
Everyone
and anyone who goes to a school may pray there. "Everyone,"that
means students, teachers, staff and administrators, may offer a private prayer
to the divine at anytime they choose. "Anyone," that means any person
of any religious faith, be they Methodist, Baptist, Catholic, or Mormon, or
Native American, Jewish, Moslem, Hindu, or Wiccan.
Thus praying in the schools is permitted to everyone there, as long as it is
private and personal, and does not interrupt legitimate school activities.
It is also
OK for students of like beliefs to join together to pray, whether informally
("let's meet at the west door before the bell") or more formally in a
religious club of voluntary membership. This club may meet on school property,
such as in a classroom, at times when clubs are usually allowed to meet. The
only exception to this is if the school has banned clubs altogether. The rule
of thumb is that religious clubs must be treated the same as other clubs.
Similarly,
it is permitted for teachers, staff, and even administrators to join together
voluntarily to pray. Again, this may occur in formal or informal settings.
What kind
of prayer is not allowed in a public school?
It is not
OK to pray in a school in way that would knowingly or unknowingly coerce anyone
of a different belief to join in. Thus teachers, principals and others in a
position of authority should not use that position to persuade, require,
expect, or intimidate students or others under their supervision to take part
in prayer that they otherwise would not. Schools are inherently hierarchical
and those who are higher in the hierarchy should do nothing that would seem to
exercise that position to make those below them pray.
Similarly,
prayer should not be part of public school functions. Although this rule can be
a bit vague, the main principle is clear. A general prayer offered in a manner
designed to be inclusive of all present, whatever religion they adhere to and
articulating generally positive sentiments agreeable to them, is usually
acceptable. Prayers that adhere to a single doctrinal line or reflecting a
non-inclusive theology do not belong at school functions, even if said by a
student. In general, prayer should not be conducted in such a way to exclude or
stigmatize those who do not participate in or follow a particular religion.
Finally,
participation in prayer should not be used as a basis to reward or promote
those who take part or to withhold such rewards from people who do not.
These
rules, both positive and negative, are designed to ensure every individual's
freedom to believe and worship as they choose, and to prevent the power of the
state (as exercised by the school and its employees) from interfering with that
right. Those who do not follow such rules may be exercising what they see as
their religious freedom, but they will be doing it at the expense of the
religious freedom of others.
Flesher is director of UW's Religious Studies Program.
More information about the program, as well as past
columns, can be found on the Web at www.uwyo.edu/relstds/index.htm.