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

DATE: SUNDAY, December 18, 1994                   TAG: 9412190031
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

COMMENTARIES: PRAYERS IN SCHOOL

Rep. Newt Gingrich, R.-Ga., who will become speaker of the House of Representatives in January, has called for hearings and a vote in the House by July 4 on a constitutional amendment that he said would allow "voluntary prayer" in schools. The amendment would be necessary because the Supreme Court ruled in 1962 that organized prayer in public schools violated the constitutionally required separation of church and state.

The Current asked some local "experts" - students in Montgomery County high schools and Radford High School - their opinions on the debate over school prayer. Here are their guest commentaries.

If you are a student and would also like to share your opinions on this issue, please write us at the New River Current, New River Valley Bureau, P.O. Box 540, Christiansburg, Va. 24073 or e-mail us at Currentvt.edu. Please include your name and telephone number.

by CNB