Many Outraged Over Prayer Service Held Before Tests

[nalnn]

Source: CBS Baltimore

Getting higher test scores with a little bit of prayer is one local school’s strategy to passing tests.

WJZ’s media partner, the Baltimore Sun, reports Tench Tilghman Elementary/Middle School has been holding prayer services for the past two years ahead of standardized testing.

The American Civil Liberties Union is crying foul for organized prayer in the public school.

Read more: http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2011/03/14/many-outraged-over-prayer-sevice-held-before-tests/

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Video at link...I think (It's blocked here)

I did not see the word 'outraged'. Maybe it was in the video, or maybe just a bit of sensational journalism.

[cleanhippie]

1. Well, any organized prayer at school is a no-no, but this is also a disservice to the kids.

As it undermines the ACTUAL work and study they do by replacing it with hopes of an intercession by a benevolent Deity.

[Plucketeer]

2. More hocus-pocus

"God's Will" if they ace it and "God's Will" if they fail. The one certainty is that God CAN'T fail. :crazy:

[Vehl]

9. good one! :)) nt

[DesertFlower]

3. i agree. nt

[plumbob]

4. Great! Let's make people even more external than they already are!

That way, instead of spending years finding what they want to do, they can just ask someone in authority.

Mindless drones a-plenty! Just what we need!

[plumbob]

5. Oh, and in case you're wondering, they score below state average on most

areas, but especially math and science.

http://www.greatschools.org/modperl/achievement/md/285#msa

Scale: % at or above proficient
Grade 3

Reading
90% (2010)
65% (2009)
74% (2008)
58% (2007)
The state average for Reading was 84% in 2010.

Math
90% (2010)
72% (2009)
69% (2008)
65% (2007)
The state average for Math was 86% in 2010.

Source: MSDE, 2009-2010
Grade 4

Reading
76% (2010)
57% (2009)
72% (2008)
55% (2007)
The state average for Reading was 87% in 2010.

Math
89% (2010)
76% (2009)
59% (2008)
76% (2007)
The state average for Math was 90% in 2010.

Source: MSDE, 2009-2010
Grade 5

Reading
94% (2010)
96% (2009)
68% (2008)
51% (2007)
The state average for Reading was 89% in 2010.

Science
34% (2010)
45% (2009)
The state average for Science was 66% in 2010.

Math
92% (2010)
89% (2009)
63% (2008)
57% (2007)
The state average for Math was 83% in 2010.

Source: MSDE, 2009-2010
Grade 6

Reading
68% (2010)
68% (2009)
60% (2008)
64% (2007)
The state average for Reading was 86% in 2010.

Math
66% (2010)
39% (2009)
56% (2008)
64% (2007)
The state average for Math was 80% in 2010.

Source: MSDE, 2009-2010
Grade 7

Reading
78% (2010)
70% (2009)
95% (2008)
Data not available for this school (2007)
The state average for Reading was 82% in 2010.

Math
75% (2010)
13% (2009)
64% (2008)
Data not available for this school (2007)
The state average for Math was 73% in 2010.

Source: MSDE, 2009-2010
Grade 8

Reading
80% (2010)
76% (2009)
Data not available for this school (2008)
Data not available for this school (2007)
The state average for Reading was 80% in 2010.

Science
21% (2010)
25% (2009)
The state average for Science was 68% in 2010.

Math
54% (2010)
24% (2009)
Data not available for this school (2008)
Data not available for this school (2007)
The state average for Math was 65% in 2010.

Source: MSDE, 2009-2010
About the Tests

In 2009-2010 Maryland used the Maryland State Assessment (MSA) to test students in grades 3 through 8 in reading and math.
The MSA is a standards-based test, which means it measures how well students are mastering specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Maryland.
The goal is for all students to score at or above proficient on the test.

[DeadEyeDyck]

30. Guess God just don't like them kids

[JanDutchy]

6. At first I Tought .... Get HIV tested !

and do so!

A matter of knowing yourselve!

And what the outcome is: I support you !

[thereismore]

7. Why study? Let's just pray harder and longer! nt

[bongbong]

8. Yes!

If you pray really, really, really, really, really, really, really hard, you can be the next Einstein.

Really.

[tanyev]

10. Are they using consecrated #2 pencils in their ritual?

It doesn't work unless you use consecrated #2 pencils.

[FLyellowdog]

11. So, if one doesn't make the approprate grade

on these prayers-before-tests...wouldn't that be an act of god and therefore beyond mere mortals control and therefore teachers/schools shouldn't be held accountable? Works for me. :crazy:

[fascisthunter]

12. Separation of Church and State

[JanDutchy]

13. to begin in the USA; most EU countries did it already ( extreme and middle)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

33. Maybe the answer is to start a Church of our own...

Where reading, math, and science are preached.

[Iris]

14. As they should be.

[Igel]

15. Shouldn't have been directed by the principal.

That boils down to "SCOTUS determines what the Constitution means, so we have to abide by SCOTUS' decision."

On the other hand, much of the other outrage strikes me as ill-founded.

If you call attention to a kid's race--if s/he's minority--or point out that girls don't do as well as boys on math tests, they do worse. Call them lazy--even if it's true--and you see scores decline. If you encourage them and show confidence in them, however misplaced, they do better. If a black student has a black teacher, a female student a female teacher or even (to a lesser extent) a boy student has a boy teacher, they do better.

Ability matters--but that's not all.

Stress matters. If you go into a test stressed out, you can't recall facts as quickly; your thinking's quite likely slowed. You become fatigued. Stress management works. Whether it's meditating, fingering prayer beads, going to a prayer service, or watching episodes of the Simpsons.

Distrust your abilities because your race is pointed out and you assume that means they're saying something about your abilities and watch your scores decline. Trust in God or your teacher's opinion, it's all the same: You derive confidence from something other than yourself.

Egads, look at how many articles were written about the newfound confidence and self-assuredness when Obama was elected. Did his election increase any kid's reading level by so much as one word? No. Yet it probably helped kids have more confidence and do better on some tests; encouraged them to think that if they, too, put in some effort then they might be rewarded.

One school I heard of has a rally at 6:45 a.m. before a major standardized test. Rah-rah! It burns off some nervous energy, gives administrators and students a chance to say encouraging words to the students, makes sure the kids are awake, and helps reduce stress.

[JoeyT]

16. And what about the kids it stresses out?

You know, the ones that are atheists or not the religion that's being used?

[Arugula Latte]

17. What utter horseshit.

Not only are they forcing religion on people, they're teaching kids that irrational thought and belief in the supernatural has power in the actual world.

[nalnn]

18. No mention of who they were praying to.

I'm sure I can guess it was either Yahweh or Jesus. Of course, it could also have been any number of the many other 'gods' mentioned in the Bible. It does say there was a Bible involved so I think my assumptions correct.

[DailyGrind]

19. So what?

I prayed before all my tests in college (and Grad School)and surpsingly, the ones I studied for I did well on and the ones I didn't, not so much.

I doubt anyone besides the ACLU and maybe one student has a problem with this. I've never been able to figure out why they (ACLU) are so terrified of God, but they sure are. Or maybe it's just hate.

[tanyev]

20. Did you go to special services sponsored by the schools you attended?

And you really don't see why that would be a problem in a public school?

[DailyGrind]

21. I'm not sure what you mean by special services, I do go to church if that's what you mean

but I've never understood this massive aversion to prayer in school and I belive the majority of people don't have an issue with it; it's a very vocal minority. They're praying for help on a test, is that really so horrible?

If there was some history of religious oppression in schools or using public prayer as some sort of mind control or whatever that would be one thing but these people have good intentions and believe in what they're doing (I assume, I'm not there).

My personal feeling is that people who have, for whatever reason, rejected God in their lives get pretty hot under the collar when they feel like religion is trying to impose something on them, and I think that's where this prayer in public thing comes from.

[tanyev]

22. Students may pray in school if THEY initiate it.

This school not only organized a service two years in a row; it handed out fliers with Bible verses that encouraged students to pray. It is picking one particular religion and promoting it. That is unacceptable in a public school setting. What about all the students who are not Christian? They get left out? The school doesn't give a rat's ass how they do on their tests?

[DailyGrind]

23. I'm sure they give a rat's a** how the other kids do

and it's my understanding that Jews use the Bible, Muslims respect it etc so I think if someone was there from another religion and was encouraged to pray, they'd probably pray to their own God or respect the other person's prayer in the spirit in which it was intended.

Unless their religion teaches them not to pray at all, which would be wierd.

This is the thing I don't get about the anti prayer crowd, suddenly it's turned into how the school doesn't care about kids and just hates everyone because they're encouraging kids to pray before a test but don't include every possible religion in a handout? That's just looking for trouble.

I'd like to see any evidence that this school had anything but good intentions. Now, if they'd cancelled classes for a month and just told the kids to pray for a good score without any instruction, that might be another story.

[plumbob]

28. Jesus did say not to pray in public. He says those that do have

already gotten all they will get. Supposed to be shut up in a closet so your left hand doesn't know what your right hand is doing.

[NYC Liberal]

24. It's not "prayer in public" or "prayer in schools" that is the problem.

The problem is prayer that is initiated, led by, and/or mandated by teachers or administrators. Nobody I've ever encountered has had a problem with students saying their own private prayers before tests or lunch or whenever.

Would you be okay with a teacher or principle requiring all students get on the floor and face Mecca while praising Allah before tests? Or making an animal sacrifice as some other religions require?

[DailyGrind]

25. An animal sacrifice before a test? Now THAT's getting freaky.

If I was living in a predominantly Muslim country and everyone wanted to pray to Allah or whatever before a test I'd just sit there and say my own prayer and not sweat it. I missed the part where they were forcibly converting everyone and misting the joint with Holy Water.

[Vehl]

26. The issue here is the seperation of church and state

Not if we are bothered by others praying or not.

I could care less about a fellow student praying, as long as the prayer is Not organized by the school. The former falls under the freedom of expression of the student, while the latter goes against the separation of church and state.

Those who oganized the prayers in a public school are in clear violation of the law and should be held accountable, notwithstanding my personal take towards the individuals who pray or do not pray.

[NYC Liberal]

27. Why is it necessary that prayers be initiated and led by administrators or teachers then?

Kids are free to say their own prayers...they always have been and nobody is against that.

[plumbob]

29. The problem with praying is that it gives external attribution for success

or failure rather than giving credit where it's due - the student and their preparation. I mean, why study if Jesus will take your hand and mark all the right answers?

In fact, why show up for the test? Can't the Host of Hosts make some little marks on papers locked in a file cabinet somewhere?

In fact, why go to school at all? Can't Jesus just deliver the diploma to you after some appropriate period of time?

Must feel bad to do ill on a prayed test - does that mean God is mad at you? Or does it mean you should have studied?

I've been teaching 3 decades, and I have a lifetime pass rate of 98%+ on state tests for my students, and I knock all the external nonsense out of them. We study test anxiety, both kinds, and learn how to recognize it and defeat in the testing room. We go over strategies for success, and we study many different ways. That's how you pass a test. I'd bet three degrees and nine teaching certifications on it.

[Matilda]

31. If they haven't done the work,

it's a bit late to pray.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

32. Too bad it wasn't a study hall instead...

I'm just saying...