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BUSH ADMINISTRATION WARNS SCHOOLS PRAYER BAN = FUNDING BAN

Guidelines provide strong protection for prayer and religious activities in schools

WASHINGTON, February 11, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) - On February 7, 2003, the United States Department of Education issued new "Guidelines on Constitutionally Protected Prayer in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools." A 2001 amendment of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act ("ESEA") required the Secretary of Education to issue guidance on constitutionally protected prayer in elementary and secondary schools.

The guidelines note that: "as a condition of receiving ESEA funds, a local educational agency ("LEA") must certify in writing to its State educational agency ("SEA") that it has no policy that prevents, or otherwise denies participation in, constitutionally protected prayer in public schools as set forth in this guidance."

Liberty Counsel, a nonprofit civil liberties education and legal defense organization dedicated to preserve religious freedom, issued a release praising the new guidelines. Mathew D. Staver, President and General Counsel of Liberty Counsel said, "The theme of the Guidelines stress that when and where students are permitted to engage in secular verbal or written speech or meetings, they may also engage in prayer or religious expression."

The guidelines indicate that students may read their Bibles or other scriptures, say grace before meals, pray or study religious materials with fellow students during recess, the lunch hour or other non-instructional time to the same extent that they may engage in nonreligious activities. Students may organize prayer groups, religious clubs and prayer gatherings. Where student groups are permitted to advertise or announce their meetings, advertise in the student newspaper, use bulletin boards or public address system, or hand out leaflets, schools may not discriminate against students who meet to pray. Students may express their beliefs about religion in homework, artwork and other written or oral assignments.

Where student speakers are selected using neutral criteria and retain control over the content of the message, they may engage in religious speech or pray in student assemblies or graduation. Teachers may take part in religious activities where the context indicates they are not participating in their official capacities, and they may meet with student Bible clubs after school. They may also meet with other teachers for prayer to the same extent they engage in secular intercommunications. They may open class with a minute of silence, and must accommodate students who chose to opt out of instruction which is contrary to the students' religious convictions.

Staver concluded, "These Guidelines on prayer and religious expression will be a blessing to students and teachers. The message is simple - school officials must stop discriminating against students and teachers who chose to pray or engage in religious expression." Liberty Counsel intends to file the Guidelines in every one of its current federal lawsuits involving public schools and will serve notice on public schools that they must immediately come into compliance with the new federal law.

See the governmental guidelines online at:
http://www.ed.gov/inits/religionandschools/prayer_guidance.html

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