tragic_pizza

Um, LOOSELY INTERPRETED, the Equal Access Law of 1984. Actually, Equal Access only applies IF the prayer was (a) voluntary, and (b) utilized no school equipment.

Now, if the post about the Lord's Prayer recitation is correct, NO Federal laws were violated. Prayers at EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, which USE SCOOL EQUIPMENT (microphones, loudspeakers, etc.), are decidedly illegal. Students praying aloud among themselves are not.

In this scenario, if the Muslim had begun praying aloud in the same manner as the Christian students, to deny him the right would have violated Equal Access. If an athiest had begun reciting the words to "Judith," sans f-word, claiming it to be a prayer, he would have similar protection, imho.

Toto

Pizza - it was a moment of silence, and these loud Christians may have disturbed my silent prayer to the Goddess. The school officials failed to enforce their proclaimed "moment of silence (wink wink nudge nudge know what I mean)". Doesn't this violate my rights?

Abacus

If this is true, then I make the claim that those students were probably abusing the law, and being disrespectful to others. Oh, and also ignoring the words of their savior.

{edited for /QB tag by Toto}

[ June 01, 2002: Message edited by: Toto ]</p>

tragic_pizza

You don't have, as yet, the right to not be offended. Were you praying to the Goddess, and their loud prayer offended you, you would have the option of praying aloud yourself.

How, precisely, were these school officials to have enforced this "moment of silence" without violating the Equal Access Law?

tragic_pizza

I cannot argue against any of those points. Not everything which is legal is in good taste...

RufusAtticus

The courts have found that student initiated prayer in school is free speech and should be treated as such. Spoken prayer during a moment of silence is as innapproprate as some one shouting "Jesus fucking Mary in a closet." The schools would be within their rights to disipline students for praying aloud if they can also disipline for speaking at all. Although, I doubt many people would have the integrety or courage to stand up for the rights of non-Christians in this case.

~~RvFvS~~

Jimmy Higgins

What is wrong with these Christians?

If a student led a spontaneous prayer, AKA the valedictorian to begin or end their speech, then it falls under Free Speech. But it has to be some sort of BS. They have to force it. They have to make it an issue. It'd be nice if the ACLJ would get off its butt and spread the word.

"Keep your mouth shut before you pray!" Then it is legal.

tragic_pizza

Actually, the opposite is true. If the prayer is given over the school's public address system (as it would in the case of a valedictory prayer) it isn't protected speech. Spontaneous prayer, aloud in the audience, may be ill-advised as a tool of witness and somewhat counter to the instruction of Christ, but it is protected.

GaryP

This may be a little off topic but I've wondered about this for a long time.

Do the courts treat hymns differently than prayer?

When I sent to my son's commencement in '98, there were 3 songs by the HS choir. Two of them were religious (The lord Bless you And keep you & another one I can't remember).

I complained. The schools never acknowledged my complaint but they did stop. I later heard that their lawyer told them they were on shaky ground and advised them to knock off the hymns.

And there is a case in Columbus in which a Jew (I think) complained about it last year. The schools defended the practice but set up a committee to make a policy. I haven't heard what if anything they came up with.

Toto

It's not a matter of being offended. Their disruption of the moment of silence is the problem. If people can't even be silent during a moment of silence. . .