
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, May 15, 1993                   TAG: 9305150177
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: PENN LAIRD                                LENGTH: Short

PRAYER DECISION PROTESTED

About 150 Spotswood High School students walked out of class Friday in protest of the Rockingham County School Board's decision not to have a prayer at the school's June 12 graduation.

Some students joining the protest, however, said it was a good day not to be in class.

"I'm just going down here to smoke a cigarette and get out of class," one student said.

Michelle Garrison, one of the demonstration's leaders, said students want the School Board to change its decision. A U.S. Supreme Court decision in June stated school-sponsored religious activities are prohibited.

The School Board dropped the prayer from the graduation program on the advice of its attorney.

- Associated Press

by CNB