Spirituality Is An Important Aspect Of Growing Up
Ever since the “separation of church and state” ruling, the church has been the object of growing cynicism. People are against the prospect of having religion taught to their children in a public school, so much so that they are willing to stifle the unalienable rights of students who, on their own, will read the Bible or pray or talk openly about religion.
It is frustrating for me as a student when, during an interesting discussion in class, someone brings up a valid point that deals with religion and all of a sudden the teacher says we cannot talk about it anymore. This kind of paranoia is brought about because most teachers are afraid of being sued if they so much as mention God.
I believe that the school should be a place of learning physically, mentally and spiritually. And if students cannot be taught about their spirituality in the classroom, they should have the opportunity to meet somewhere on campus to read, discuss and learn about their own religion with other students, if they wish.
The fact is that students in public schools have rights, too. Students have the right to discuss religious beliefs and even share religious materials with their peers between classes, at break, at lunch and before and after school. And, as the Supreme Court declared: It can hardly be argued that either students or teachers shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.
Our education system requires students to attend schools. School districts must therefore be careful about abridging the rights of students who are rightfully there.
In our education system, stateoperated schools may not be “enclaves of totalitarianism;” school officials do not possess absolute authority over their students. Students possess fundamental rights which the state must respect, just as students must respect their obligations to the state.
Students are vested with two distinct sets of rights in the public school setting. First, the federal Equal Access Act guarantees high school students the right to have Bible clubs on campus. Second, all students retain their constitutionally protected right to freedom of speech and expression.
Bible and prayer clubs are also protected in the Equal Access Act, as long as they are student-led. Bible clubs must receive official recognition, which means that the club must be treated the same as other clubs meeting on campus. The only difference between a Bible club and any other club allowed to meet on the school campus is the use of faculty members as club sponsors or advisors.
Rising Generation is a Bible club in Sandpoint High School that meets every morning in Room C-4. I am the president of the club, a title that includes responsibilities such as reading various passages from the Bible and leading or closing a group prayer.
I believe that school prayer of this sort is beneficial to students because it helps them set priorities and reinforces their beliefs.
However, I am opposed to the proposal to have an “organized prayer” during class time. I neither want to impose my religious beliefs on others or to have their beliefs imposed on me. I believe that it violates the rights of other students to be forced to pray or acknowledge the practice of any organized religion.
On the other hand, I believe a moment of silence at the beginning of the day can serve to focus one’s mind and set one’s priorities for school. This can be prayer, meditation, reflection or whatever, according personal preference.
When a public high school refuses to allow student-initiated Bible clubs on campus, it treats those students as second-class citizens.
The nature of public schools does not justify the forfeiture of constitutional rights. In fact, the public nature of such schools enhances the rights of students.
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