Christians - do you have a personal story of your children not being allowed to pray in school?

Question

Not a friend of a friend or heresay. Something you experienced yourself. Do you know the ACLU has defended Christians being able to pray in school?

Mainly stories of students who were trying to pray privately or like Jan's daughter having a cross confiscated. (I am so sorry Jan)

That is where discrimination comes in.

Teacher led or mandatory morning prayer is a different matter.

Jedi - you are correct there - thing is I keep hearing how schools allow every religion to practice except Christian which would be discrimination.

Who said I was Christian? I just wanted personal stories as I kept hearing how they were being persecuted and discriminated against.

Kkings - Of course the ACLU will press suits where there is teacher led prayer - that is illegal. But they have worked in favor of Christians, as well as those of other religions - for personal religious freedom - wearing of religious symbols, taking Bibles to school.

Answer 1

Yes, my daughter. It wasn't prayer - she was changing in the lockerroom in gym, and the gym teacher saw that she had a small silver cross around her neck. It did not have Jesus on it, it was plain, no stones, nothing.
it was a simple silver cross that her grandmom gave her for her birthday, and she wore it under her clothing, but she was changing so the teacher could see it when her shirt was off.
She was told to dress and was taken to the principals office, where it was removed from her body. It was confiscated, and I was called and told that this type of obvious religious attire will not be tolerated on school property. I felt like a person who is being told that their kid brought a .45 caliber gun to school. It was unbelievable.
I asked for the cross, and they couldn't find it. They said they would look for it, but then said it never turned up.
My daughter died right after that school year ended, and I would have liked to have had the cross, it would have been nice. I would wear it, but its gone. Her punishment for it was that for the classes she missed while this was all happening in the principals office, she was not allowed to make up the work, and so was failed for whatever work she missed, including gym.

Answer 2

Prayer is a very personal ,individual communication to the Lord. I pray everyday....and nobody knows I'm doing it...nor do they need to. I did it all through my life....all through school. How could anyone say I couldn't? Nobody has a party line to my prayers. Prayer does not have to be ritualistic in any way. You do not have to assume a position. You do not need to talk out loud. And it's inapropriate to make a big scene of such a private thing so that it would result in someone being disturbed enough to stop you from doing it. In other words....nobody ever stopped me, or bothered me, or even knew. I'm fifty years old...I believe there has always been prayer in school. There has never been a problem. And that's how I've taught my children (who are now grown) and they never had such a complaint either. What I would resent is someone forcing thier personal religious beliefs on me. The blessing of the USA is religious freedom....and a public school accomodates all those beliefs. So one is not allowed to predominate and make people subject to others individual beliefs. That's where the line is drawn. The people who are making a big deal about prayer in school would have a fit if that also meant that ANY religion could do likewise. Public school prayers for wiccan, satanists, and any number of religions that these people usually disapprove of would also be allowed under the 'right' that these people are arguing for. If your school doesn't promote your own personal religious beliefs as much as you want it to...go to a private christian school. Public schools are for the public....for all people, no matter race, creed, color , or national orgin.

Answer 3

You shouldn't be hearing any stories like that. Any child is allowed to pray in a public school. What we don't allow is faculty led or forced prayer. And you should check out what else the ACLU defends.....they have filed suit against districts for having teacher led prayers when not all of the students are Christians.

Answer 4

How stupid. One can pray anywhere at any time. I have a story about how my children were subjected to the tyranny of Christian bigotry by being forced to listen to superstitious nonsense in school.
Christians generate some of the most virulent propaganda. Remember, it is not the ACLU that tortures scientists for sharing new knowledge, it's the Christians. It is not the atheists who demand that Earth is the center of the universe and kill those who say differently. Christians do that. Christians are seldom persecuted.
Their own Bible says to go into the closet and pray, and not be wordy because god knows what you need without asking. Furthermore, those who pray publicly, openly on street corners and in public school classrooms already have their reward (attention) and they can forget any heavenly reward.
Got a problem with prayer? Maybe it's because you are ignorant of what it says in your Bible.

Answer 5

I went to a public school in Oregon in the 80's.
we had a mandatory attendance assembly with a player from the Seattle Seahawks...an "inspirational speaker" there to talk about how he used to be a sinner and now was saved...and led a prayer at the end.
I was hopping mad...my mom was disinclined to stir up trouble lest, as she put it, we'd have "pinheads burning crosses on our lawn".
knowing that town, she was probably right.

I will say this: it was an education in the gaps between this country's ideals and its reality.

Answer 6

I work in a public school, and this has never come up as an issue. I don't believe it would be a problem. Our pastor mentioned the state of public schools today, but I don't think it is as bad as some people think. Not in my experience as a public school teacher anyway. At my school, people are just trying to teach the kids the curriculum and to be good citizens, there is no liberal agenda. I know there are cases that make the news, but I don't believe they are as widespread as some would believe. I believe Christians need to pray for, support, and become involved in their local schools, not condemn them.

Answer 7

My children prayed in school... believe it or not, there are some devout Christian teachers and there was always a way to get around the 'rules'....
In the town where I live there are 2 schools are allowing kids to make a choice of learning about evolution or creation.. they are also doing bible study... only if they choose to.....

Answer 8

No but I've been out of school for quite a while, when I was young and in school we would have prayer every morning and say the pledge of allegiance.

Answer 9

Back in elementary kids would look at me funny when I said a really small prayer before eating. That's kind of why I stopped.

Answer 10

the countless maximum considered necessary teachings a determine grants to a new child are a thank you to be self-useful and the thank you to think of heavily. instruct your infants this and that they are going to be happy despite they suspect.