The Power of Prayer in School

    As we all know, prayer is no longer encouraged or promoted in school...is this a good or a bad thing?  It is said that "controversy is brewing in a northern Georgia community after about 50 students prayed together Wednesday morning when school officials said they should have been in class." Personally, I see nothing wrong with praying in school.  However, missing class is a problem, which makes this issue complicated to justify.  In the article, 'Extended prayer at North Georgia school ignites debate,' it said that "it was a student-led initiative. The student showed up at the coach's office and the coach did pray with them and it went into the school day, over into the first period of the day."  At my school we have the event, 'See You at the Pole,' Christian Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and several Christian teachers and students.  Our teachers are not allowed to lead prayer or bible studies, but students are allowed to do so and Christian Club and FCA meetings are held during school hours. 
    It seems that these rules about prayer in school are as clear as mud.  The school's superintindent, Dewey Moye, said "the student who initiated the prayer is part of the school's Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter. The superintendent said that before the prayer ended, 50 students had joined in. Moye said that the students were within their rights."  I do agree that the students do have the right to pray in school.  For all we know, they may not be able to at home and school is the only place that they feel like they can.  After Mr. Moye said the students had the right to pray he said "from now on, there will be no prayers during school hours."  It is almost as if he has contradicted himself.  He is just rocking the boat.
    With all of these rules and arguments, it is hard to decide if prayer in school is a good or a bad thing.  Both of my great grand parents are retired teachers and they believe prayer should be put back in schools.  My gran talks about reading bible stories and leading prayer with her third graders.  Fifty years ago that was perfectly fine during school hours, but not now.  This shows how times have changed and makes a person wonder if times should go back to how they used to be. 



http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/story/22145783/extended-prayer-at-north-georgia-school-ignites-controversy
Extended prayer at North Georgia school ignites debate
By Aungelique Proctor, FOX 5 reporter