Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Apocolips · 07-20-2003, 08:00 AM

Hola!

When I went to High School in the early 1980s in Tennessee, the legislature of the state enacted into law a "moment of silence". So after morning announcements, it was stated that there was a moment of silence. Usually we students just jabbered away in homeroom.

This is my deal about "prayer in school". What God do we pray to? People in Crown Heights Brooklyn NY would pray Jewish prayers, people in Utah would have their Mormon liturgy, and possibly people in the deep south might have protestant services. But even in the deep south where I come from, people are Fundamentalist, Jewish, Catholic or agnostic. Who does one pray to?

When I was in school (1982-1985) in Tennessee there was a CLICK (Christ Living in Christian Kids) group. It was sued by the ACLU as a religoius group on campus (with full support of the Baptist principal). We had the local Baptist church come in to our public school (then almost lily white) and talk to us about suicide. No mention of the Son of God, but it was implied.

I would like to hear from students, pre 1963, what their thoughts are in the issue, plus anybody else who wants to chime in.

SENOR

PS I know this emonicon is supposed to represent pity, but he is my trademark!:boohoo: :boohoo: :boohoo: :boohoo:

beejay · 07-20-2003, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by senor boogie woogie

I would like to hear from students, pre 1963, what their thoughts are in the issue, plus anybody else who wants to chime in.

I was a high school student in Ohio in the 1960s. There were no prayers, no moments of silence.

And then I attended a private (American-run) high school in Europe. No prayers, no moments of silence.

Jewel · 07-20-2003, 12:27 PM

I was in High school from 85-88 in NC. I remember the moments of silence. Even then I remember thinking it was pretty rediculous. Around 3 hours per school year devoted to absolutely nothing.

GaryP · 07-20-2003, 12:43 PM

I was in public schools in Ohio from '56 thru '68.

Don't remember any prayers or moments of silence.

I DO remember my 4th grade teacher asking me if I were Catholic because I was wearing my green Little League team shirt in school! I wasn't and even then I remember wondering why in the world that mattered and what business it was of hers.

And in HS, we were told we HAD to attend the Baccalaureate service a week before graduation or we coulsd not go through the Commencement ceremony.

I believe the Supreme Court decision prohibiting school sponsored baccalaureates was in '64 or so.

Stephen Maturin · 07-20-2003, 01:37 PM

Dang, whereabouts in Ohio did you gents go to school? I recall beginning each public school day with recitation of the Lord's Prayer and a Bible reading until about 1965.

Bill Snedden · 07-20-2003, 01:51 PM

Oh my, yes. I was in school 1968-80 in Virginia and we opened every day with a prayer. We also had prayers before lunch and at the end of the day. On Wednesdays we had chapel, although it wasn't mandatory. On holy days of obligation we had mandatory Mass...

Oh, did I mention I went to Catholic school? Oops...

Just to stay on topic, my siblings attended public school in VA in the '70s and reported no prayers...

Regards,

Bill Snedden

Toto · 07-20-2003, 01:59 PM

I was in public schools in Maryland until about 1962 (before Madalyn). There are a lot of things I don't remember about those years - a shrink could say a lot about that - but I remember pledging to the flag and reciting the Lord's Prayer. At some point, we also started having daily Bible readings. I did one of the daily Bible readings, and picked out what I considered a meaningful passage. After I read it, I looked up and realized that the entire class and the teacher were, as we would later describe the condition, "spaced out" and no one had understood a word.

(I am reminded of that Monty Python episode where there is a reading from Shakespeare's alleged "Gay Boys in Bondage.")

I then moved to the midwest, and I honestly don't remember pledges or prayers or Bible readings.

PJPSYCO · 07-20-2003, 02:21 PM

I went to school from 1986 to 1998. I had a moment of silnence up until I protested. I was christian for the first 7 years. So, I didn't protest. I was complained at to stay quiet up until my softmore year when I got my chance. I was the only one doing the pledge (I did the origional version as well) and I used that as my leaverage to not be held during the momewnt of silence. That started a backlash, and any student not wanting to do it was allowed to start their day right after morning anouncements. I don't know if it is still school policy, but it was for the time I was there.

beejay · 07-20-2003, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Stephen Maturin
Dang, whereabouts in Ohio did you gents go to school? I recall beginning each public school day with recitation of the Lord's Prayer and a Bible reading until about 1965.

Brecksville, about 20 miles south of Cleveland. Very heavily Protestant. (You could spot the Catholics because they were the only ones who supported Kennedy in 1960).

We did have the pledge in elementary school, but I can't remember it in 7th grade or later. [I also don't remember when we were told we were adding 2 more words to the pledge, but that must have happened around 3rd grade for me.]

GaryP · 07-20-2003, 04:14 PM

Stephen--

I went to school right here in Lancaster, about 30 mi. SE of Columbus.

What part of the Great State where "anything is possible" did you go to public school?

07-20-2003, 08:00 AM	#1
Apocolips Banned Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Hangzhou, China Posts: 2,402	Prayer in schools? Hola! When I went to High School in the early 1980s in Tennessee, the legislature of the state enacted into law a "moment of silence". So after morning announcements, it was stated that there was a moment of silence. Usually we students just jabbered away in homeroom. This is my deal about "prayer in school". What God do we pray to? People in Crown Heights Brooklyn NY would pray Jewish prayers, people in Utah would have their Mormon liturgy, and possibly people in the deep south might have protestant services. But even in the deep south where I come from, people are Fundamentalist, Jewish, Catholic or agnostic. Who does one pray to? When I was in school (1982-1985) in Tennessee there was a CLICK (Christ Living in Christian Kids) group. It was sued by the ACLU as a religoius group on campus (with full support of the Baptist principal). We had the local Baptist church come in to our public school (then almost lily white) and talk to us about suicide. No mention of the Son of God, but it was implied. I would like to hear from students, pre 1963, what their thoughts are in the issue, plus anybody else who wants to chime in. SENOR PS I know this emonicon is supposed to represent pity, but he is my trademark!:boohoo: :boohoo: :boohoo: :boohoo:

07-20-2003, 01:51 PM	#6
Bill Snedden Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Greensboro, NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,597	Prayer in school... Oh my, yes. I was in school 1968-80 in Virginia and we opened every day with a prayer. We also had prayers before lunch and at the end of the day. On Wednesdays we had chapel, although it wasn't mandatory. On holy days of obligation we had mandatory Mass... Oh, did I mention I went to Catholic school? Oops... Just to stay on topic, my siblings attended public school in VA in the '70s and reported no prayers... Regards, Bill Snedden

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07-20-2003, 12:27 PM	#3
Jewel Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Northern Virginia, USA Posts: 1,112	I was in High school from 85-88 in NC. I remember the moments of silence. Even then I remember thinking it was pretty rediculous. Around 3 hours per school year devoted to absolutely nothing.

07-20-2003, 12:43 PM	#4
GaryP Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lancaster, OH Posts: 1,792	I was in public schools in Ohio from '56 thru '68. Don't remember any prayers or moments of silence. I DO remember my 4th grade teacher asking me if I were Catholic because I was wearing my green Little League team shirt in school! I wasn't and even then I remember wondering why in the world that mattered and what business it was of hers. And in HS, we were told we HAD to attend the Baccalaureate service a week before graduation or we coulsd not go through the Commencement ceremony. I believe the Supreme Court decision prohibiting school sponsored baccalaureates was in '64 or so.

07-20-2003, 01:37 PM	#5
Stephen Maturin Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Broomfield, Colorado, USA Posts: 1,295	Dang, whereabouts in Ohio did you gents go to school? I recall beginning each public school day with recitation of the Lord's Prayer and a Bible reading until about 1965.

07-20-2003, 01:59 PM	#7
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	I was in public schools in Maryland until about 1962 (before Madalyn). There are a lot of things I don't remember about those years - a shrink could say a lot about that - but I remember pledging to the flag and reciting the Lord's Prayer. At some point, we also started having daily Bible readings. I did one of the daily Bible readings, and picked out what I considered a meaningful passage. After I read it, I looked up and realized that the entire class and the teacher were, as we would later describe the condition, "spaced out" and no one had understood a word. (I am reminded of that Monty Python episode where there is a reading from Shakespeare's alleged "Gay Boys in Bondage.") I then moved to the midwest, and I honestly don't remember pledges or prayers or Bible readings.

07-20-2003, 02:21 PM	#8
PJPSYCO Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Rolla, Missouri Posts: 830	I went to school from 1986 to 1998. I had a moment of silnence up until I protested. I was christian for the first 7 years. So, I didn't protest. I was complained at to stay quiet up until my softmore year when I got my chance. I was the only one doing the pledge (I did the origional version as well) and I used that as my leaverage to not be held during the momewnt of silence. That started a backlash, and any student not wanting to do it was allowed to start their day right after morning anouncements. I don't know if it is still school policy, but it was for the time I was there.

07-20-2003, 04:14 PM	#10
GaryP Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Lancaster, OH Posts: 1,792	Stephen-- I went to school right here in Lancaster, about 30 mi. SE of Columbus. What part of the Great State where "anything is possible" did you go to public school?

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