Prayer in Schools
I am a member of the ACLU, though certainly not a major contributor. Still, I recognize the phenomenal work they do in maintaining our freedoms as guaranteed by the constitution and the Bill of Rights.
I also have friends who are conservative and religious and who often complain about the ACLU's positions on religion and prayer. One set of cases often singled out are those suits filed by the ACLU over prayer in the schools. Frequently the ACLU position is over-simplified and amplified in order to make their demands seem even more unreasonable.
The ACLU's position is really quite clear. Prayer and religion are personal matters. If you want to pray before an athletic event - feel free to do so. If you'd like to worship before attending any school event - feel free to do so. Just don't force your beliefs on everyone else at that event.
Because of the confusion, I herein post the ACLU's official position of prayer in the public schools...
1. Students have the right to pray individually or in groups or to discuss their religious views with their peers so long as they are not disruptive. Because the Establishment Clause does not apply to purely private speech, students enjoy the right to read their Bibles or other scriptures, say grace before meals, pray before tests, and discuss religion with other willing student listeners. In the classroom students have the right to pray quietly except when required to be actively engaged in school activities (e.g., students may not decide to pray just as a teacher calls on them). In informal settings, such as the cafeteria or in the halls, students may pray either audibly or silently, subject to the same rules of order as apply to other speech in these locations. However, the right to engage in voluntary prayer does not include, for example, the right to have a captive audience listen or to compel other students to participate.
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