Which do you support?

Prayer and bible study should be allowed, but not forced upon anyone.

We, as Christians, sat silently by and let the world define what is acceptable in our schools. For this we shold be ashamed.

In Christ,
Trotter

 

Amen, Trotter!!

Bill

 

What about a JW leading Bible study??

 

I said no to a teacher leading a Bible CLASS, but if a teacher wanted to lead a voluntary Bible study, during a free hour or after school, I see no problem with this. Id want to be able to see what the teacher was going to be teaching in the Bible study.

 

Poll Results: Which do you support? (21 votes.)
Teacher led prayer in state supported schools

Should be retained or reinstated 24% (5)

Should stay removed or be removed 43% (9)

My view is not here or not voting 33% (7)

Teacher led Bible classes in state supported schools

Should be retained or reinstated 29% (6)

Should stay removed or be removed 43% (9)

My view is not here or not voting 29% (6)

"Under God" in the Pledge of Allegience

Should be retained or reinstated 90% (19)

Should stay removed or be removed 5% (1)

My view is not here or not voting 5% (1)

"In God We Trust" on currency and coinage

Should be retained or reinstated 90% (19)

Should stay removed or be removed 5% (1)

My view is not here or not voting 5% (1)

 

Prayer lead by who? A muslim, buddist? Bible study lead by who? JW's, Mormons?
Dangerous ground.

 

I'm in the majority here for a change! Woo Hoo!

 

Imagine a really popular teacher leading a Bible study in the public school. Charismatic individual, kids all love him, he is their favorite teacher. Just imagine...as he sits in front of the class...with his Unitarian pin barely noticeable on his lapel...
"Lets start by talking about the difference between mythology and history"
You think it is far-fetched? I do not.
BrianH

 

I have no problem whatever with a voluntary program in which teachers are allowed to lead in prayer and Bible study.

 

I concur with this sentiment here. If it were voluntary and required parental permission, I am all for that. I am absolutely, 100% against having the Bible taught as a mandatory class in the public schools. I am also 100% against children being forced to say a prayer they don't believe in.

Joseph Botwinick

 

If it is voluntary, I say go for it. That is the nature of freedom of Religion.

Joseph Botwinick

 

Let whomever wants to lead a bible study lead a bible study. If it's a JW, a Mormon, a Calvarean, a presbyterian, a Catholic, a Jew, a Buddhist, whomever. Let the students have the opportunity to choose to attend one, all, or none. So long as it doesn't cut into class time, and so long as it is not school endorsed, I see no legal, moral, or ethical problem here.

BTW, I'm a bit at a loss as to why anyone would be in favor of teacher led prayer or bible study. I certainly don't want a school official doing so to my kids.

 

I have nothing against teachers leading it as long as it is voluntary and parental permission is required.

Joseph Botwinick

 

I am in student ministry. I have been actively involved with campus ministry for years. I have been involved with FCA and other groups. I have schools where I have a lot of freedom and some with tight guidelines. I am against teacher led prayer and Bible study. I am all for student led prayer and Bible study.

I have seen student led mininstry lead to revivals in school. I have seen countless lives come to Jesus as Lord and saviour. We need to equip and train our students. We need to quit whining about goverment and do what we can do.

I am in 4 public high schools,8, middle schools, an alternitive school, and 3 private schools. Students are the answer to the problem. Teach them how to share their faith and reach others. Let them know what they can and can't do. We don't need teacher led prayer. The sutdents do a much better job.

 

I am also for student led ministry, to a point. I do think, however, that they need some adult leadership as well. We must remember that they are also children and may not be mature enough to handle some situations. As I said, if the Bible Study or prayer time is voluntary and parental permission is required, I would have no problem with a teacher leading it.

I also have seen student ministries lead to revival. I have also seen some revivals lead to bad theology and destructive attitudes when the adults take too much of a hands off attitude. I have been teaching in the public schools for almost 9 years now and spent 3 of those years (at my first school) as a sponsor for the Fellowship of Christian Students.

I also agree that students are part of the answer to the problem. As a matter of fact, if I were looking for a way to change the lives of students, I would focus the majority of my time teaching the parents the Word of God and trying to change some of their attitudes about parenting.

Joseph Botwinick

 

I, likewise, am for student led ministry. In fact, me daughter (who is now in college) was a part of a student ministry in her high school. She was a member of the Christian club, too.

 

Students should be free to express Christian beliefs and bring Bibles to school. But I still maintain that the real issue is whether we should even have state supported schools. My answer, although there are many good teachers scattered throughout the school systems, is no. Ideology is an important part of an education and it cannot be communicated to everyone's satisfaction in a government-run system. Government should stay out of the education business, and return to the "we get bored because we don't have that much to do" business.

 

I am a teacher's aid in the public school system. I agree with the current policies that prohibit teacher led prayer and religious studies. The teacher represents the will of the people in a public school, and should conduct themselves accordingly. At the same time, I believe that a teacher should still be able to exercise their own right to practice their religious beliefs where it is not directly leading their students to do the same, for example, I think teachers should be permitted to silently pray themselves at times that do not interrupt the flow of the day's activities, like before eating their lunch, during a class change, etc. Also, I believe teachers should not prohibit their students in their own acts of prayer of religious discussion among themselves.

Having said all of that, I would be in favor of a state high school graduation requirment of one term of "Religion" - that is a class that simply informs students of the basic facts about the world's religions, particularly the major ones. The purpose of the class is not to promote any one religion over another, but to educate our teens on what constitutes a religion, to inform them about the basic tenants of each group, and provide some background to enable students to avoid the pitfalls of misinformation via rumor and prejudice. Just my opinion.

 

Ron,

I would never support a religion class that was required in a public school because there is no way, even if you are only teaching the most basic religious beliefs, that one could leave personal biases at the door. Religion is best learned at home and at Church. If the schools want to offer a religion class with the permission of the parents and that is voluntary, I am all for it.

Joseph Botwinick