Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 22, 1995 TAG: 9510230046
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Here's what the candidates had to say on the subject of prayer and religion in schools.
If it could be done legally, would you favor prayer in schools, including student prayers at graduation ceremonies?
Bedford County
District 1:
Russell ``Butch'' Wright: ``Yes. If the students initiate the service, that is their choice. If a student wants to pray, he can do so silently without disrupting anyone.''
Wesley Gordon Jr.: Did not respond.
District 5:
Eugene Erb: ``Every American should have the freedom to choose when and how he/she practices their religious beliefs. As a Christian, I support prayer at appropriate times; however, this decision can only be made through the voice of the local people through their elected representatives.''
Betty Earle: Did not respond.
District 6:
Hunter Hale Jr.: ``This issue should be decided by the local school board and should be decided by the people in the county. As for graduation ceremonies, if the students want to pray, I'll fight for them to have the right to pray.''
Shirley McCabe: Did not respond.
District 7:
Stanley Butler: ``Yes, I would favor voluntary prayer in schools including prayers at graduation ceremonies.''
Benny Shrader: ``Yes. I favor prayer in public schools that is of student origin.''
Botetourt County
Valley District:
Michael Beahm: ``I do not favor school-sanctioned prayer. Whose religion is going to be the focus? It is not illegal to offer your own individual silent prayer and God hears each one of those. Public schools are made up of students from many different religions and denominations. While I do favor students learning about each religion and culture, there is no way to adequately represent all religions with one prayer at a specific function.''
Fincastle District:
Sally Eads: ``Students have always been able to pray quietly in school at any time and place. Parents should be the religious authorities for their children. If school officials are not included at all in clearing student speeches at graduation, then who is to say what the content would be in the first place. Then, if prayer is included in the speech, it is genuinely voluntary.''
David Emeigh: ``Yes.''
L.W. ``Jack'' Leffel Jr.: ``Yes, but a method must be established to include people of all faiths who may desire to participate.''
Blue Ridge District:
James Ruhland: Did not respond.
Craig County:
Alleghany District:
James Cady: Did not respond.
Simmonsville District:
Bonnie Hutchison: Did not respond.
Rodney Williams: Did not respond.
New Castle District:
Thomas Zimmerman: Did not respond.
Two at-large seats:
Patrick Myers: Did not respond.
Brenda Allen: Did not respond.
Robert Knepp: ``Yes. Religion should be a part of every aspect of life for those who so choose. It is wrong to tell students that they must leave their religion at home during the school year.''
Hettie Farley: Did not respond.
Floyd County
District A:
Clay Link: Did not respond.
District B:
David Sulzen: ``No. I believe in the separation of church and state, and believe that open prayer alienates and offends those of religious beliefs other than that of the majority.''
Cheryl Whitlock-Allen: Did not respond.
District C:
Howard Cundiff Jr.: Did not respond.
District D:
Marie Mathis: ``Yes. Praying has never, nor will it ever injure anyone.''
Margaret Hubbard: Did not respond.
District E:
Douglas Phillips: Did not respond.
Louellen Sharp: Did not respond.
Franklin County
Blackwater District:
Shirley Jamison: Did not respond.
Van Flora: ``Yes.''
Boone District:
Guy Buford: Did not respond.
Snow Creek District:
Terry Lovell: ``Our culture has become so diverse that it would be impossible to meet the requirement/request of all religions involved. A moment of silence for individual prayer would better suit. A student should be allowed to pray at graduation ceremonies with some restrictions.''
G.B. Washburn Jr.: ``Yes. If we allow freedom of sexual preference and sexual expression, we should definitely allow freedom of religion.''
Union Hall District:
Perry D. Hambrick: ``Yes. Everybody should be given the opportunity to pray to God in some form each day. A prayer never hurts anyone, some people need to get a life.''
Rocky Mount District:
Steve Flora: Did not respond.
Gills Creek District:
Jack Newbill: Did not respond.
At-large (one seat):
Amanda Davis: ``Yes, I strongly support prayer in schools, anytime it is student initiated. I believe the right to pray in schools is closely tied to the freedom of speech and as such must be protected from encroachment from any source.''
William Helm Jr.: Did not respond.
Giles County:
Western District:
J. Lewis Webb: Did not respond.
Central District:
Joseph Gollehon: Did not respond.
Carolyn Linkous: Did not respond.
Mary-Paul ``Widget'' Shannon: ``Yes. I feel each county should vote in the county election whether to allow prayer in schools for the next four years. This, of course, would only be student organized and led.''
Eastern District:
Jeffrey Wiegand: ``Yes. I favor school prayer if done legally and does not infringe on the rights of the individual who wants to pray as well as those who do not.''
Ronald Whitehead: Did not respond.
At large (two seats):
J.B. Buckland: Did not respond.
John Billos: Did not respond.
Phillip Morris: Did not respond.
Montgomery County
District B:
Robert Anderson: ``If the student initiated it, yes! Let's be tolerant of each other more.''
Bernard Jortner: ``It is not illegal to pray in school if done on an individual basis, is not disruptive and is not sanctioned by school officials.''
Oscar Williams: ``I favor individual students praying anywhere they want to. However, I am not sure that prayer ... can ever be legally organized without it being mere form, fashion and simply an outside show to an uncaring world. I strongly support students, acting on and of their own free will and initiative, being able to organize and freely participate in religious groups and discussions just as they can organize into groups to discuss Shakespeare, biology and physics, and any other topic of their choosing.''
District E:
Jack LeDoux: ``Yes - why not? If student initiated and led.''
Victor Sheppard: Did not respond.
Michael Smith: Did not respond.
District F:
Richard Edwards: ``No. Which prayer and by whom? This is too complex to even consider implementing.''
James Klagge: "No. ... There is more than enough opportunity to pray publicly outside of school. Children should never have to feel uncomfortable in school or at school functions because of their beliefs about religion.''
District G:
Peggy Arrington: ``I do not favor organized, loud prayer in schools. There is nothing now to prevent a student, or even a small group of students, from quietly, personally praying. I think that is fine, and, as long as it is not disruptive of the educational environment or process, it is a constitutionally protected right.''
Wat Hopkins: ``Prayer, of course, is allowed in schools. Indeed, I suspect many schoolchildren pray many times each day. Such prayer is legal and I support it. The question, however, I suspect, is intended to address corporate prayer in school and other types of worship services. I certainly have no objections to activities that are legal. Nor do I have objection to activities that are constitutional. Corporate prayers and school-sponsored prayers at school functions are unconstitutional.''
Pulaski County
Ingles District:
Ronald Chaffin: ``Yes, if it could be done legally.''
Barbara Chrisley: ``I would favor prayer in schools if done legally.''
Robinson District:
Sybil Atkinson: ``A few years ago, I would have answered yes. Now, with the diversity within our county, I would do nothing to make a child or teacher feel uncomfortable.''
Rhea Saltz: Did not respond.
Massie District:
Jeff Bain: ``This question seems to ask, if it were legal to discard the Constitution, would you favor that? I support a moment of silence for private meditation at the start of each school day. Student-initiated prayer at graduation ceremonies and athletic events may be proper but I would need to be assured that any guidelines which are established by our school board after extensive consultation with staff, teachers, administration, parents and local clergy were strictly adhered to in this matter.''
Nathan Tuck: ``Yes.''
Draper District:
Lewis Pratt: Did not respond.
Cloyd District:
Beth Nelson: ``Yes. I favor Jewish, Islamic, Christian and all other student prayers when offered spontaneously by the person praying, at graduation, sports events and other important gatherings.''
Carolyn Brown: ``Yes, but not on a mandatory basis - only for those who want to participate.''
Roanoke County
Catawba District:
William ``Bill'' Brown: ``We should have tolerance of all religions. Students as well as teachers should be able to practice and live their religion in all aspects of their life.''
John Reed: ``I am not in favor of a school prayer being broadcast over the school PA system every morning. Student prayers of all faiths should be welcomed at formal functions such as graduations. This has grown into a `silly' problem and could best be handled by individual schools using a little common sense.''
Marion Roark: Did not respond.
Cave Spring District:
William Irvin, III: ``If legal, I support voluntary prayer which is student led.''
Carol White: ``No. While graduation ceremonies seem a logical place for an invocation, prayer does not need to be part of a school routine. Our public schools have children from varied religious backgrounds and we could not satisfy everyone. Reciting the pledge of allegiance to our flag seems a very appropriate way to begin the school day.''
Vern Jordahl: ``This question is now moot but my answer is yes, I do favor voluntary prayers in school, including student and clergy prayers at graduation. It has been a long tradition that pastors, priests and rabbis invoke the blessings of God on graduating classes. Ours is a pluralistic society that guarantees freedom for or of religion, not freedom from religion. It was an older and wiser counsel on the part of America's founding fathers that saw the strengthening and positive value of religion in the lives of Americans, and they encouraged its cultivation.''
Keywords:
POLITICS
by CNB