Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 8, 1995 TAG: 9501090013
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: KENNETH HINCKER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
This was the conclusion of the Supreme Court in 1962 when deciding upon the Engel v. Vitale case. So the issue of school prayer was laid to rest for 33 years. However, if Newt Gingrich and the newly crowned Republican majority have their way, a constitutional amendment overriding the court's decision may be passed.
Why is this measure necessary? One of the basic tenets of the United States government is the freedom of religion, both the establishment and the practice thereof. The wall of separation between church and state, espoused by Thomas Jefferson, is one of the reasons that America has so prospered as a free country. Yet Newt et al. are now seeking to break down that wall, and with its destruction will go the means by which 260 million citizens' spiritual integrity is protected.
The assertion that the advent of school prayer will bring an end to the drugs, violence and sexual laxity of today's youth is completely unfounded. True, religion is a benefactor in many students' lives, but this does not give cause to force it on all other students. And the change in attitudes that will halt and reverse the problems in public schools must begin in each student, not in a mandated prayer.
And how will the religious right hope to inculcate freedom of expression and religious tolerance in students when they are forcing them to participate in a prayer that may run counter to their beliefs? The powers-that-be behind the prayer movement have also suggested a moment of silence at the beginning of each school day. In this way, the students who choose to pray may do so and those who do not will not be coerced into an unwanted religious experience. This scenario still has the potential to breed ostracism among students and faculty. "Why didn't Johnny pray this morning?" is a question that may influence his treatment by students and teachers alike over the course of the school day. Furthermore, the mandatory moment of silence is not an educational tool. A moment of silence is not an effective way to impart the Pythagorean theorem or Shakespeare's "Othello." In short, it has no place in the educational curriculum.
Throughout U.S. history, parents have sent their children to school to receive an education. Religion has always been left in the place of worship or at home. Why the sudden need for change? It would seem that those responsible for nurturing religious and moral values in students, that is, the parents and elders in respective religious communities, are becoming lax. The role of the public school system is not to reinforce religious beliefs learned at home; rather, it is to teach students to think for themselves. In this way, students will come to understand the beliefs that they have been taught. It is up to them whether or not to pursue those beliefs. By sponsoring prayer, the school system will be engaging in a practice antithetical to its primary purpose. The public school system is not the place to instill religion in young people's minds; the home and the church are the places to do so.
The right to pray is guaranteed for every man, woman and public school student in the nation. The Constitution makes very clear this stipulation. "The Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." - Amendment 1, U.S. Constitution. A student may pray on his or her own time without any fear of breaking laws. No legislator may take away that right. What the religious right and the incoming House speaker are attempting to do is to compel students to partake in an activity that has nothing to do with education or learning. By doing so, Gingrich and others will neither cultivate religious values nor put an end to the societal problems that have bubbled over into the public schools. What the prayer in school amendment will do is wrench the freedom of religion from every student in the United States and take away one of the building blocks that propelled this country to greatness.
Kenneth Hincker, a senior at Blacksburg High School, is a former assistant editor of the school's newspaper and president of the Youth Government Club.
by CNB