Beginning the School Day in Prayer
Daily prayer and reflection is a central and invaluable part of life for millions of Americans. The Bible speaks often about the importance of prayer and the virtues it imparts. Frequently in his ministry, Jesus would go off to pray alone before he faced many of his greatest trials. Given many of the demands and stresses of the modern world, it is important to take time to be still and reflect on the values that guide us in our day to day comings and goings. It is just as important that we teach our children the value of such reflection and of wrestling with their beliefs. Mississippi schools should not only be growing our children’s minds, but should provide the opportunity for them to explore their hearts and souls as well. This can be done by the instituting a time of voluntary, student-led prayer and discussion before school in a way that promotes reflection on morality and ethics without violating the Constitution. Because Mississippi Values Network is focused on results to our moral challenges, not rhetoric meant to raise money or get people elected, we feel it is vital that a plan to get prayer into school actually be able to succeed and pass judicial scrutiny. Our plan would do just that!
The Mississippi State Board of Education should craft a policy that:
- Sets aside 10 minutes every morning before school begins to provide students with a time during which ethics, morality, faith, and prayer can be fully expressed in a voluntary manner
- Ensures that buses drop children off at school prior to this 10 minute period so that all children may participate if they choose
- Leaves final decisions on implementation up to individual school boards so that local needs can be addressed
- Directs the Attorney General to defend any school district that is challenged in court
It is possible to create this program in a way that does not violate the Constitution while providing children who desire to engage in their right to prayer an established time to do so. This time would be entirely voluntary and student-led. The Supreme Court has held that teachers may participate in religious activities in school but not during school hours. By setting aside 10 minutes before school starts, teachers will be able to provide supervision to students engaging in prayer and discussions on morality in faith. Any student who does not wish to participate can arrive at school any time during this 10 minute period without even being exposed to the potential stigma they might feel if they needed to leave a room or gym to “opt out” of prayer and being exposed to beliefs they did not share. Decisions about where this activity should take place would be left up to the local school boards as every school is different. Upholding the legal requirement of equal access, other student groups would be allowed to meet during this time as well (as they currently are).
Despite its clear legality, there very well may be leftist or atheists groups that would try to challenge this policy in court. To ensure school districts were comfortable offering students this option, the Attorney General would be required to defend any school district sued over a good faith implementation of this program.
This policy would create a means of providing our children with one of the most fundamental aspects of their development: the ability to reflect on, question, and share their beliefs and values. If we want our children to grow up to be moral adults who are grounded in their values and make ethical decisions, then we must help them engage in the practices that will let them become so.
