Prayer in public schools.

[The Backlash Cometh]

You all know it's being done openly in some parts of America, right? There's this one public high school whose coach has put his own stamp on things. Because of his winning record, after the recitation of the national anthem, the man brazenly puts his team in a huddle in the center of the field for prayer. It doesn't matter whose field he's on. He even does it at away games.

The sad thing is that he's got a great high school team and they continually win. Not because they pray before each game, but because he, allegedly, poaches players. He has a history of it, but, he seems to stay on top regardless of the number of complaints he formally has to face.

Over Christmas, he hosted a tournament on his field and he played Christmas music which included traditional Christmas music with some of that modern day Evangelical sounding stuff. The come-to-Jesus, Rejoice-in-Jesus kind of music.

I don't know how he has managed to keep this going without challenge, except that this is that kind of county. I call him a ruthless Christian, because he's been known to do some really underhanded stuff. Again, the kind of civil disobedience that good ole boys are known for.

Anyway, I was wondering if there are other people out there who have seen this so blatantly?

[NewJeffCT]

1. I have no problem with prayer in public schools...

as long as it is private & personal. I get offended when it's out in the open like that. I'm guessing that a lot of those kids feel obliged to pray, even if they don't want to.

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. I get the impression that there is some coercion taking place.

The guy is capable of being just as ruthless as the next guy, but I guess since he's doing it for Jesus, it's okay.

[Toots]

4. As long as there are tests given there will be prayer in school

It is when the school organizes prayer or allows organizational prayer that it starts to be an infringement upon our Constitutional rights....We have a Constitutional Right to not have religion forced upon us or our children.....Why do right wingers want to eliminate our Constitution?

[SmokingJacket]

2. There's nothing wrong with prayer in schools...

It's organized, and therefore state-sponsored, prayer that's the problem. Kids can say grace over their lunch box if they want to. I don't know why some people feel that individual prayer isn't good enough...

I live in a liberal northern town, and it doesn't happen here, but when I lived down south it was a constant kerfuffle -- various teachers and principals were always deciding to fly in the face of the Constitution in the name of God, then a parent would complain, round and round she goes, as if this question weren't already answered.

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. This is very blatant.

What makes it so hypocritical, is that the guy is quite capable of playing dirty pool when he needs to.

[SmokingJacket]

12. I totally believe it. nt

[seabeyond]

5. matthew 6:5....dont be like the hypocrits...praying publicly...

that is all the reward they will receive. ... go away be yourself, all alone, shut the door.....pray to your father secretly...father who knows your secrets will reward you

i would love the opportunity to be put in public prayer, or for my sons, and for them to raise hand and quote this verse of matthew, saying to pray publicly would be to defy gods law, what the bible tells us to do, and they refuse, being the good christians that they are

[tularetom]

6. I personally experienced it 40 years ago

Because my HS grades sucked I attended a community college and played on the football team. We had a jesus freak coach who made us pray before every game and at halftime, and took us on "field trips" to his church one of those nondemoninational joints which in later years would become a megachurch. Most of the guys on the team put up with it in silence but a few of us were overheard making some snide remarks about the coach and his practices and there were consequences - we were all demoted to bench warmer status. I hung around for a few more weeks but I eventually quit out of boredom - I had no future as a jock anyway. The coach was shitcanned about five years later for recruiting out of his district - strictly a no no in those days. There was much controversy after this most of it generated by the members and pastor of the goofy church. The firing was upheld and he couldn't get another coaching job and wound up selling real estate.

[The Backlash Cometh]

8. From Jesus freak coach to real estate salesmen.

In this county, that's called a lateral move.

[tularetom]

11. Unfortunately, for this asshole

it was a step up financially. He glommed on to all the real estate business from the wacko community and made a ton of dough. He knew how to hold a grudge too. He still remembered me 30 years later and tried to screw my daughter and son in law on a home sale deal when he found out who they were.

[The Backlash Cometh]

13. That small-town Christian ruthlessness is something we should

all be mindful of. This isn't about free speech in this country, because those people know how to tighten the wagons and hit you in places that you never saw coming.

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. How about a link?

[The Backlash Cometh]

10. A link?

This is personal observation. I can't do anything about it now, but maybe in the future.

[MelissaB]

14. We've had prayer over the intercom and at school assemblies

I'm the only one who has spoken out against it. The principal was having students, teachers, and preachers lead prayer over the intercom during morning announcements.

Prayer (and Christian music) over the intercom has stopped, but he continues to have prayer at assemblies.

[The Backlash Cometh]

15. You sound like you got lucky.

I'm just afraid that they will retaliate one someone complains. The guy has been around for over twenty years.

[MelissaB]

16. The principal hates me and hasn't made life easy, but I did what I thought

was right. He's an asshole who thinks he's including all religions by including all christian denominations.

[The Backlash Cometh]

17. I think it's time to start differentating between the Christianities.

In fact, I think it's time to change my sig.

[seleff]

18. My Girls Soccer Team does it on their own...

I'm a third year teacher and coach in a heavily Title-I school in Georgia(99% African-American). I was a bit flabbergasted my first game when the girls spontaneously huddled and recited a prayer that goes something like...Lord help us this day to give us the power to play fair and hard and win.. or something like it (i've never participated). The team was 50% juniors that had been together since 8th grade. I've said nothing about it one way or the other...why should I?

[The Backlash Cometh]

19. I think the rule is that the kids can do it on their own, but in my case,

there is definitely coercion.