Prayer at Blair: the case for religion in schools

Every Friday afternoon, senior Indra Hidayat prays. After he takes off his shoes and rolls up his pant legs, he kneels down on the edge of a brightly colored rug and listens to an Arabic sermon given by a peer. He then lowers his head to the floor in worship, praying to acknowledge the holiness of God. All of this takes place, not in a nearby mosque or temple, but in room 131 at Blair.

Hidayat, who meets weekly with the Muslim Students' Association for a required group worship after class, is one of numerous teens who prays in school. According to the National Study of Youth and Religion, more than 48 percent of teens express religious beliefs at school. Blazers who pray in school are among the thousands who, amidst national controversy, seek a balance in the national tug-of-war regarding religion in schools.

Drawing the line

Citing her "Christian duty," sophomore Dawn Brimmer sometimes prays for people she passes in the hallway, even if she has never met them before. No matter where she prays — at lunch, between classes or in the halls — Brimmer feels constantly surrounded by God's presence.

For this reason, Brimmer disagrees with federal restrictions on any prayer in school, including school-sponsored prayer. "They spend so much time putting down religion like it's a bad thing," she says.

For students of faith like Brimmer, the quest for God in school has become increasingly difficult. Since the 1962 Supreme Court case "Engel v. Vitale" banned school-led prayer, the federal government has stepped up restrictions on religious expression in schools. Current law states that a school system cannot conduct public prayer, organize religious activities or endorse religion in any way. Recently, the Supreme Court has prohibited student-led prayers before school football games and school-sponsored religious speeches at graduation.

At the heart of the matter is the thin line of separation between church and state established in the First Amendment, which some believe is drawn too tightly and others believe is drawn too loosely, according to University of Maryland law professor Mark Graber.

Contrary to popular belief, the separation between church and state does not address students as much as the school administrators, according to Graber: Students have and always will have the right to pray individually in school. According to the Concept of Freedom Ministries web site, students like Brimmer may bring Bibles to school, assemble to pray during school hours, say grace at lunchtime and form religious clubs and organizations.

Pledging belief

Some students, like sophomore Kim Mason, take full advantage of these rights. As a member of the Christian Club, Mason prays at the beginning and closing of each meeting in room 264 after school on Thursdays. On top of schoolwork and participating in five clubs, she believes that it's important to take a moment out of her day to talk to God.

Brimmer also cherishes the quiet moments she has with God. She talks to God as she would to a friend, but "the difference with God is that I feel a lot more peaceful and it just really comforts me," she says.

But when the federal government forbids in-school recitation of Bible verses or the Lord's Prayer, Mason feels that her fundamental right to free speech is violated. "It's like telling someone they can't be African-American, or they can't be white," Mason says. "It's taking something away from them."

The right not to pray

Though she believes in God and prays regularly, senior Yvonne Ellis recognizes the opposition's argument. Because of Blair's diversity, Ellis believes it is unfair to endorse one religion over another. Forcing a student to adopt a belief or even recite mandatory prayer would be completely unfair, she says.

Rob Boston, assistant director of communications for Americans United for Separation of Church and State, says the separation between church and state is important because it preserves religious diversity. He worries about the future of separation of church and state, an issue currently under attack in Congress, in religious organizations and in the Bush administration, fearing that the addition of new Chief Justice John Roberts and another pending Bush nominee to the Supreme Court will help the government to further erode this First Amendment stipulation.

But for Blazers of faith, connecting to God takes on a more supreme importance than governmental standing or bureaucratic decisions. They take little notice of the ongoing battle between religion and schools around them, praying in school because they feel God's presence everywhere they go, not just in church or at home.