San Diego Public Elementary School Schedules Daily Muslim Prayer Breaks

[Logan13]

Now where is the ACLU on this one? Does anyone doubt that if this were a Christian group, there would be a lawsuit. Shit is just getting crazy!
San Diego Public Elementary School Schedules Daily Muslim Prayer Breaks
http://www.citizenlink.org/content/A000004964.cfm
After Muslim students were given a scheduled prayer break each day, the Pacific Justice Institute (PJI) is calling for the same accommodation for other students who wish to pray.

Officials at San Diego's Carver Elementary allow Muslim students a 15-minute prayer break each afternoon. Non-Muslim students are instructed to read or write during the break.

Attorney Pete Lepiscopo, a PJI-affiliated attorney, sent a letter last week to the San Diego Board of Education that explains numerous statutory provisions that affirm students' rights of religious equality. Lepiscopo requested that classrooms be set aside for students and employees of all faiths to meet their religious obligations to pray – as is being done for Muslim students.

"The school district has created the opportunity to return prayer to school," he said. "What can be better than children praying while they are in school?"

Bruce Hausknecht, judicial analyst with Focus on the Family Action, said as long as the school adheres to two constitutional guidelines, a designated time of prayer would be legal.

"First, no teachers could lead prayer or pray with students – everything must be voluntary by the students," he said. "Second, the school would have to make the same religious accommodation available for those of all other religions."

In order to ensure that all religious exercise is voluntary, the letter suggests that the prayer times coincide with recess.

Brad Dacus, president of PJI, said voluntary, student-initiated prayer in schools should not be controversial.

"The federal courts have held that schools do not endorse everything they fail to censor," he said. "This could be a terrific opportunity for a whole community to recognize the importance of faith in our youth, without government involvement or interference."

[Coop77]

I agree with you on this one Logan. Shit is getting crazy.

[Tock]

I think they'll find that while they can have after-school clubs for Christians, for Muslims, for Gay-Straight clubs, they won't be able to assign property owned by the public (a school classroom) for religious use during school hours. Also, they won't be able to assign school employees to supervise the student's activities in a room designated for religious activities, and the Supreme Court has already ruled that non-school employees are not allowed to supervise or lead students in religious activity during school hours.

However, I can sympathize with Muslim parents who want their kids to pray 5 times a day. But how to accommodate their wishes while not transgressing the US Constitution? Let the kids do what they want to do during recess, and if some of 'em want to go out to the playground and have a Muslim prayer session, let 'em do what they want on the playground, but not in a room specially set aside for them . . .