Can students pray in school? Wyoming school district learns what’s legal and what isn’t.
Can students pray in school? A Wyoming school district has learned what’s legal and what isn’t — and the truth may surprise some people.
In October, several students at a Wyoming high school formed a circle in the cafeteria to give thanks for the food they were about to eat. Soon after, Principal Stanetta Twiford of Glendo High School told the student they couldn’t do it again in the cafeteria because it could be seen as forcing religion on other students, which is not allowed in public schools, the Christian News Network reported. The district superintendent, Dennis Fischer, backed up in his principal when a parent of one of the students got involved.
But that parent then contacted the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative Christian group, which sent a letter to Fischer saying that the prayer group was, in fact, legal. Fischer did some research on his own about what is permitted and sent a letter back, saying that he learned that the prayer group did not violate the law. The decision was reversed.
So where and when can students pray in public school? This is from Charles Haynes, vice president of the Newseum Institute/Religious Freedom Center who writes and speaks extensively on religious liberty and religion in American public life. I published this in 2014, but it’s worth repeating.
From Haynes:
The claim that public schools are hostile to Christians … isn’t true.Truth be told, students of all faiths are actually free to pray alone or in groups during the school day, as long as they don’t disrupt the school or interfere with the rights of others. Of course, the right to engage in voluntary prayer or religious discussion does not necessarily include the right to preach to a captive audience, like an assembly, or to compel other students to participate.Visit public schools anywhere in America today and you’re likely to see kids praying around the flagpole, sharing their faith with classmates, reading scriptures in free time, forming religious clubs, and in other ways bringing God with them through the schoolhouse door each day.As for celebrating Christmas, students are free to say “Merry Christmas,” give Christmas messages to others, and organize Christmas devotionals in student Christian clubs.It’s true that some public school officials still misunderstand (orCan students pray in school? Wyoming school district learns what’s legal and what isn’t. - The Washington Post:
