Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!unc!mcnc!decvax!ittvax!ittral!pellegri 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)