I’ve mentioned in the past that I’m a little leery of the complete power the republicans have in North Carolina. However, there are benefits to finally having the out party in control of the legislative process.
In this case, it’s prayer in our public schools:
Raleigh, N.C. — Legislation approved Wednesday by the Senate Education Committee reaffirms that students can pray in public schools, a right that some lawmakers and others say is being curtailed by teachers confused by the law.
Senate Bill 370 would allow students to pray silently at any time or out loud during non-instructional time as long as the prayer is initiated by students – not teachers or staff – and nobody is forced to participate. Also, any school employees present during a student prayer would be encouraged to “adopt a respectful posture.”
“Teachers and the schools don’t really understand current law. That’s the problem,” said Sen. Austin Allran, R-Catawba. “They’re telling students they can’t talk about God or anything else that’s religious.”
This, pure and simple, makes sense.
While I don’t agree with legislation that bans organized times of prayer, think before an athletic event or at graduation, allowing students to pray on their own certainly isn’t restricted by that law.
I personally pray over my food before I eat. Can you imagine a school not allowing a student that discretion? Or prayer during down time or private time, as mentioned above, that doesn’t interfere with instruction.
Maybe democrats here in Carolina would have gone with this view of the law, but they haven’t in all the time they’ve held the house, the senate or the governor’s mansion.
