As school districts start voting on prayer periods in schools, what does F16 think.

How can this be implemented? (Logistically, not legally)
Is this a good idea?

I do know how to implement this other than have this br an optional flex period with teachers who agree to host these students.

I think it is a great idea as a public school teacher. I would be willing to host these students and join in daily scripture and prayer (i already do both of these without students in my class). Lots of schools are losing students to private christian schools in my area (including my own kids possibly) so keeping these kids would be a great thing in my opinion.

DonHenley said:

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Nah, go to church if you want prayer.

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Love your voice

A moment of silent prayer at your desk should be an acceptable compromise. Stay in your seat and be quiet, otherwise it can be deemed you are trying to make a spectacle and not in genuine prayer. Prayer beads and holy texts acceptable as long as you keep your seat.

They do stuff before school already like Meet You at the Flag. This just codifies an allowed time before or after class specifically for prayer from what I understand. Districts can opt in or out.

BBRex said:

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This will go great when students start pulling out prayer rugs and bow towards Mecca or some start saying "Hail, Satan!" during prayer time.

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Equal accommodation....

They already do this in Richardson ISD for Muslim kids. They get to go in the hall for prayer throughout the day. It's ridiculous and disruptive.

The System said:

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Why is this necessary as students already have vast rights to pray at school?

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It's not. This is annoying.

American Hardwood said:

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A moment of silent prayer at your desk should be an acceptable compromise. Stay in your seat and be quiet, otherwise it can be deemed you are trying to make a spectacle and not in genuine prayer. Prayer beads and holy texts acceptable as long as you keep your seat.

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This is what we had back in the mid 80's at my high school. One minute of silence before class started in first period.

Phatbob said:

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DonHenley said:

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Nah, go to church if you want prayer.

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Tell me you're atheist without telling me you're atheist

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They are worse than "Jeep people". Possibly worse than cross-fitters.

TxAgLaw03RW said:

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They already do this in Richardson ISD for Muslim kids. They get to go in the hall for prayer throughout the day. It's ridiculous and disruptive.

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Islam needs to be made illegal

Head to a parochial school if you need a period dedicated to prayer. If a kid wants to study the Bible, they are still free to do so at any point that is not filled with instruction.

College Station and Bryan ISDs both voted to not enact House Bill 11 this week, fwiw.

Darn them libtards trying to take away our constitutional right to aggressively push our religion onto every kid in earshot. Praise Jeebus!

Or they could just allow the kids to gather in the library between the start of drop off time and the start of first period like our HS does. It's earmarked as "a time for reading the Bible or other religious texts" and requires parents to fill out a permission form before a student is allowed to join (likely to keep it as a quiet time and not becoming another general gathering space).

Some of y'all let the simplest stuff to get your panties in a twist.

The First Amendment already exists and a school board passing a policy would require a lot of extra work like ensuring a student doesn't see or hear a student praying if they don't want to (THIS IS A REQUIREMENT OF Senate Bill 11). It is completely unnecessary and just something Abbott wanted so that he can say "see, ___ ISD hates God and voted against prayer in school."

Luckily, Christianity finally progressed past this phase.

Captn_Ag05 said:

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The First Amendment already exists and a school board passing a policy would require a lot of extra work like ensuring a student doesn't see or hear a student praying if they don't want to. It is completely unnecessary and just something Abbott wanted so that he can say "see, ___ ISD hates God and voted against prayer in school."

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The First Amendment ensures freedom OF religion. Not freedom FROM religion.

Rossticus said:

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Luckily, Christianity finally progressed past this phase.

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You mean the phase where they traveled to the Holy Land to defend Christians against the unprovoked attacks by....

Muslims?

techno-ag said:

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Captn_Ag05 said:

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The First Amendment already exists and a school board passing a policy would require a lot of extra work like ensuring a student doesn't see or hear a student praying if they don't want to. It is completely unnecessary and just something Abbott wanted so that he can say "see, ___ ISD hates God and voted against prayer in school."

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The First Amendment ensures freedom OF religion. Not freedom FROM religion.

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Correct, but Senate Bill 11 requires if a school adopts a prayer policy, that the school also do the following:

Quote:

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must include provisions ensuring a prayer or

reading of the Bible or other religious text is not provided in the

physical presence of, within the hearing of, or in another manner

which would constitute an injury in fact within the meaning of the

United States or Texas Constitution on a person for whom a signed

consent form has not been submitted under Subsection (b)(1) or has

been revoked under Subsection (c); and

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What I am saying is it is all nonsense to require schools to vote on adopting a policy. The First Amendment is sufficient. If schools do vote to adopt a policy, it puts a lot of extra requirements on the school, like ensuring students that don't have a consent don't hear or see prayer. That is what the law specifically requires. But, if a district votes against the prayer policy, Abbott and Paxton get to say that the district is opposed to prayer and God in school. I think it is a bad law and we should have just stuck with our First Amendment protections.

4 said:

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Rossticus said:

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Luckily, Christianity finally progressed past this phase.

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You mean the phase where they traveled to the Holy Land to defend Christians against the unprovoked attacks by....

Muslims?

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Nope. But let's not pretend that Christianity doesn't have its own rather ugly, corrupt, oppressive, and violent past once it was co-opted for political and personal gain. It's been used in its own right to justify foul human behavior.

This doesn't mean that I'm comparing it to or in anyway justifying Islamic violence, oppression, corruption, etc. I find foul and unjustified behavior taken in the name of any religion equally unacceptable.

All that said, I was serious in my statement that I'm glad that Christianity has moved past that point in its history. I say this as a Christian.

I'd encourage you to read what the bill actually says.

It's always interesting to me when people want Christianity in schools as though it will reinforce what they are learning at home/at their church. As someone who spent a number of years in a "Christian" school, I was constantly coming home with new ideas from different teachers. Such as:

-You can't get saved before 6, and you can't get saved after 66 (their interpretation of "666"
-Becoming addicted to nicotine makes you bound for hell
-John is ~2,000 years old and is still living on the isle of Patmos
-Charmander, Charmeleon, and Charizard Pokemon cards are demonic-possessed items through which demons can more effectively communicate with the person who has them in their possession.

Just to name a few of my favorites.

I began school in 1959 as first grader. No kindergarten. I can't remember any prayer time set aside. High school we had "please rise for the moment of silence, and remain standing for the Pledge of allegiance".

I believe Magnolia ISD is one of the few that has voted for this.