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Prayer In School Resurfaces After Terrorist Attacks

Prayer Groups Have To Be Voluntary

POSTED: 12:04 p.m. EDT October 12, 2001

Since Sept. 11, prayer has probably been mentioned more than you've ever heard in the media.

Connecting With Kids' Tonya Strong wanted to find out if kids are being allowed to pray in public schools.

Andrea Heflin leads her high school Christian prayer group in prayer by saying, "And father God, I just thank you for everything you do every day in our lives. Thank you for the ability to meet here, as we do every week."

Since the terrorist attacks, attendance has been growing fast in the group.

"Our meetings have been way up," said Heflin. "We've had so many more people at the meetings. I think most any faith has had people at their synagogues, at their temples, at their churches. Places have been packed for the past few weeks."

America is praying, but some people wonder how much prayer is allowed at school.

"I think many people, when they hear that the Supreme Court has ruled that teachers can't lead prayer in schools, they interpret that as meaning that there won't be any prayer in schools," said Georgia Lord, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union. "Well as many people have said as long as there are tests, there will be prayer in schools."

According to the Department of Education, religious clubs must be treated the same as other student groups. They must be voluntary, and it must be student led.

"I think the main thing parents need to tell children is that this is a pluralistic society," said Lord. "We have many people with all types of different viewpoints. And that often you, can learn something from someone else even if you disagree with them."

The Department of Education has an advisory on school prayer for parents, kids and school administrators.

For more on that advisory, click here.




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