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From: pellegri@ittral.UUCP (Dan Pellegrino)
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: Prayer in Public Schools
Message-ID: <380@ittral.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 7-Mar-84 13:22:30 EST
Article-I.D.: ittral.380
Posted: Wed Mar  7 13:22:30 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 8-Mar-84 19:30:52 EST
Lines: 36


When I was in grade school, the first-things-of-the-day ritual was to hear the
playing of "The Star-Spangled Banner" on the P.A. system, recite the Pledge of
Allegiance, hear the morning announcements and then pause for thirty seconds of
silent meditation.  During the thirty seconds, one could pray to whomever they
wish (silently) or simply reflect on something.  Even before I became a 
Christian (which I now am) I thought that it was a good idea to encourage our
children, as they live in this high-paced world, to stop and reflect once in a
while.  Now that I am a Christian, I think that if I was a Christian back in my
school days, I would have been glad to have had an opportunity to concentrate
in a silent environment (the entire school was silent for the same thirty 
seconds, so it really was very quiet) and have a more meaningful time of prayer
than if I had to squeeze-in a quickie amid noise and haste.  

I think that the thirty seconds of silence is the answer.  Those who do not 
wish to pray can meditate/reflect/contemplate or do whatever, but silently and
without disturbing others.  Besides, I would rather have the chance to have a
personal prayer time to pray to the Lord in a specific manner than to have to
participate in a general purpose prayer that is "safe" for everyone because it
barely has any relevance at all.

If the silent time was longer, perhaps a couple of minutes, groups of like
interest could organize themselves and, after arranging it with the teacher
before hand, could briefly group together and quietly pray (or whatever)
together.

To summarize:  I am for the alottment of a short period of shool time for the
               purpose of having a quiet devotional/personal time to be
               exercised by each student according to thier individual desire.

--------------------------------------

Dan Pellegrino
ittvax!ittral!B
              
(correct path is:  ittvax!ittral!pellegri)