I am writing in response to the Feb. 20 editorial, “Stance should be taken on school prayer.”

The editorial states that, “Based on a series of questionable court decisions, the official federal stance is that religion has no place in our schools.”

That statement is false.

According to U.S. Department of Education guidelines, prayer is legal in all public schools. Students can bring religious literature to school, have religious clubs, can engage in a variety of religious activities.

There are some restrictions. Schools can not infuse, endorse or give official sanction or approval to religion because public schools are government institutions and, like all government agencies, are constrained by separation of church and state. A violation would be particularly egregious in the schools because students are a captive audience.

Religion is solely a personal and private matter, the province of the individual, the family, the home, the church, the religious denomination schools, the private school if elected and not publicly funded.

That should satisfy everyone expect those who are determined to impose religion on others.

If everyone would refer to the official guidelines on religion in the schools it would avoid unsubstantiated rumors, misunderstandings and false statements.

 

George M. Marshall

Natchez resident