                                ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Thursday, August 1, 1996               TAG: 9608010007
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-1  EDITION: METRO

PRAYER IN THE SCHOOLS THE VIRGINIA TECH QUALITY OF LIFE SURVEY

Virginia Tech's Center for Survey Research polled 1,168 adult Virginians between April 21-May 22. The margin of error is 2.9 percent. Numbers may not add up to 100 percent due to rounding.

Most Virginians - 59 percent - believe that organized prayer should be offered in public schools.

There should be organized prayer in public schools.

Strongly agree 32%

Somewhat agree 27%

Somewhat disagree 17%

Strongly disagree 22%

Don't know 2%

But where Virginians stand on prayer depends in where they live. Virginians outside the urban crescent are twice as likely as their urban counterpart to support prayer in the schools.

Percentage of those who "strongly agree"

Urban crescent 22%

Rest of state 43%

Age and education also strongly influence views toward school prayer. Those over 40, and those with a high school education or less are the most likely to back school prayer.

Percentage of those who "strongly agree"

Under 40 25%

40 or older 38%

High school degree or less 48%

At least some college 20%

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by CNB