Student challenges prayer at high school graduation

fruple · **Posted:** May 19th, 2011, 1:35 pm

Quote:

For the first time ever, prayer will not be part of graduation ceremonies Friday night at Bastrop High School.

Principal Stacey Pullen said the school received an e-mail on Tuesday from a student who identied themself as an atheist.

“They said if we included a traditional prayer in the ceremony that they would contact the (American Civil Liberties Union),” Pullen said. “We asked our attorney about it, and we are making changes to the program.”

Not only are school officials dropping the prayer from the ceremony, they are being forced to have the programs for the evening’s events reprinted at a cost Pullen said is undetermined at this time.

Mitzi Quinn has been on the staff at BHS for almost 25 years, much of that time as a senior advisor. In the past, Quinn said there have been students who were atheist, agnostic and other non-Christian religions who “had no problems” with the prayer.

“They respected the majority of their classmates and didn’t say anything,” Quinn said. “We’ve never had this come up before. Never.”

Throughout her time working with the student, Quinn said they never expressed their personal beliefs or that they had any problems with other students’ Christian faiths.

“And what’s even more sad is this is a student who really hasn’t contributed anything to graduation or to their classmates,” Quinn said.

The student who contacted the superintendent has already received death threats (as his brother says here), and may not attend graduation because of safety concerns.

While the ruling keeps changing on whether prayer should be allowed at graduation ceremonies or not, I personally think it shouldn't be. That can be done before or after. But in the middle of a public school graduation ceremony? I don't think that's right.

What do you guys think?

ShadowFox1001 · **Posted:** May 19th, 2011, 2:02 pm

It's been a practice for a long, long time, and this issue is starting to really grate on my nerves. It's like having "under God" in the pledge. It's part of the damn pledge. If you don't believe in God, don't say it. If you don't believe in God, you don't have to say the prayer. It can be their prerogative to do this in the middle of the ceremony. It is not disrespectful to anyone, and if you honestly think it is, then I'm sorry you feel that way. All these kids have to do is not say it. Take it the other way. If the school was predominantly atheist, agnostic, or other non-Christian belief, could Christians ask for a prayer at their ceremony? I highly doubt it. I bet they would be shot down. I'm sure the majority are Christian and want to keep the prayer, and it even says the non-Christian folk are okay with the prayer. So what's the f*cking problem? Either put up or shut up.

Lantis · **Posted:** May 19th, 2011, 2:15 pm

Anyone who gets offended at someone else's religion isn't worth the time of day anyways. I am Christian and had an Atheist friend of mine and we hung out all the time. And not once did our beliefs ever upset or offend the other... because they are like opinions: Everyone is entitled to their own. And this guys spazzing out over the prayer is just plain ridiculous.

"What? How dare they wish me well in the life ahead and ask someone who may or may not be real to give me some help! I WILL NOT STAND FOR IT!!!!!"

myoky · **Posted:** May 19th, 2011, 6:22 pm

Pretty much agree with lantis, but I think the bigger idiots are the people sending him death threats over it.

Guarionex · **Posted:** May 19th, 2011, 7:11 pm

Reprint the programs? Can't they just get a pen and put a line over "prayer time"?

My thoughts? I know many Christians are not known for their tolerance, but this example shows that lack of tolerance is not specific to them.

fruple · **Posted:** May 19th, 2011, 8:09 pm

ShadowFox1001 wrote:

It is not disrespectful to anyone, and if you honestly think it is, then I'm sorry you feel that way. All these kids have to do is not say it. Take it the other way. If the school was predominantly atheist, agnostic, or other non-Christian belief, could Christians ask for a prayer at their ceremony? I highly doubt it. I bet they would be shot down.

But, by allowing Christian prayer during the graduation, shouldn't the school have to allow prayer relating to every other religion of the student body? To me, it just looks like the school is validating Christianity, and none of the other trains of religious belief. But even allowing all of the religions to have a prayer shouldn't be allowed, because it's against the law - it's a public school. It'd be perfectly fine to have prayer sessions before or after, in a place or setting where people that don't want to attend don't need to be at.

Lantis wrote:

Anyone who gets offended at someone else's religion isn't worth the time of day anyways. I am Christian and had an Atheist friend of mine and we hung out all the time. And not once did our beliefs ever upset or offend the other... because they are like opinions: Everyone is entitled to their own. And this guys spazzing out over the prayer is just plain ridiculous.

I'm personally looking at it in the way that he's so upset about it because it's against the law, not because he's offended by religion. But, that's just how I'm looking at it - I can see how you can take it a different way.

ShadowFox1001 · **Posted:** May 19th, 2011, 8:30 pm

It may be against the law, but I still know schools that do it and prayer in the middle of graduation has not been an issue. We prayed at my graduation and at the time I was atheist. Hell, I knew other atheists were there too. You know what? NOBODY GAVE TWO s**ts. Why? Because we can not believe it but just accept it and move on with life instead of being f*cking titty babies over it. A lot of states have provisions during the school day that allow for silent prayer (moments of silence). But this whole thing should be a complete non-issue, but some titty baby had to whine and get it removed. Most people are respectful or don't let it bother them or care. So it's just a Christian prayer... there are greater f*cking tragedies. And also, there are a variety of Christian prayers. The Catholic prayer is different than how others pray because of they have that Mary part in there. The whole political correctness of this is annoying and stupid as f*ck.

Lantis · **Posted:** May 19th, 2011, 8:48 pm

fruple wrote:

I'm personally looking at it in the way that he's so upset about it because it's against the law, not because he's offended by religion. But, that's just how I'm looking at it - I can see how you can take it a different way.

In Montana, it's illegal to have more than one alarm clock going off at one time. But that doesn't mean I should run to the police just because I heard it. This is plain and simple just an over-reaction. My atheist buddy just graduated and wasn't too thrilled about the prayer, but he didn't get his panties in a wad about it either.

KarrLordofChaos · **Posted:** May 19th, 2011, 10:24 pm

if kids want a prayer in school then they should go to a catholic school. public education shouldnt have religion in it, if you want religion then you have a choice to go to a school that offers it. i dont think a prayer is a big thing but i think religion needs to stay out of school. its kind of stupid that i cant call christmas by its name yet schools can have prayers in them. give me my christmas back and you can have all the prayers you want in school.

ShadowFox1001 · **Posted:** May 19th, 2011, 10:52 pm

Ever think that some people can't afford private school?

KarrLordofChaos · **Posted:** May 20th, 2011, 12:13 am

the option is there. if you want something different then the norm then of course you will have to pay to be different. otherwise you can have prayers on sunday or personally express them. public education system is just that, acceptable to all people, without bias of religion, ect.

Zombisem · **Posted:** May 20th, 2011, 6:36 am

Karr Lord of Chaos wrote:

i dont think a prayer is a big thing but i think religion needs to stay out of school.

I think Karr has summed up most of my opinion about it. If you want to go to a religious school and be taught by nuns or priests that's fine, but education in general just has very little to do with religion so why keep throwing back to an outdated system because some people keep practising that faith separately. "In the name of god you will complete these sums!" o.O?

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