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From: speaker@umcp-cs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.religion
Subject: Re: prayer in schools
Message-ID: <5821@umcp-cs.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 9-Mar-84 14:40:11 EST
Article-I.D.: umcp-cs.5821
Posted: Fri Mar  9 14:40:11 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 10-Mar-84 14:17:49 EST
References: <1911@cbscc.UUCP> <7528@mgweed.UUCP>, <753@ihuxq.UUCP>
Organization: Univ. of Maryland, Computer Science Dept.
Lines: 28

This is ridiculous!

Next, the government will require 30 seconds of private meditation in
libraries, at all public meetings and in all houses of worship.

Since we're talking about the instruction and molding of
our young people, it has become an important issue.  Many
people want certain values instilled in their childern.
Others simply want their heavy-handed beliefs forced
on everyone (but that's a different issue altogether).

The purpose of the public schools is to prepare young people
for participation in our (so called) civilised society.
That's why we have math, reading, and science courses.
Effective participation in a democratic societey DOES NOT
require what might be viewed as a meeningless ritual.

Should we instill a sense of spiritual values in them
as well as these other day-to-day skills?  Not through
prayer, no.  Prayer assumes that the (unwilling) participants
WANT or NEED to communicate with an unnamed, undefined deity or
deitys.  It does not instill beliefs... this task
has been left to the parents... which is where personal
experiences, like prayer, should be left.
-- 

				Debbie does Daleks
				- Speaker