Charlotte Murry, a proponent, questioned USD 257 board members Monday night about students praying while at school.
They may but without any encouragement or organized effort on behalf of the district, said Dr. Craig Neuenswander, superintendent of schools.
“It’s not legal for us to be involved,” he said.
The board long has had a policy for administrators and other school personnel to keep hands off religion, said Mary Apt, board president.
Not a problem, said Murry, a parent and Allen County Hospital employee, but she wondered whether students were aware that they could spontaneously pray or whether places were made available to them in individual schools for “quiet time.”
She was assured the district would not infringe on a student’s religious convictions, including prayer.
They may pray, before tests or meals or for any other reason, Neuenswander said.
Murry noted that prayer had been a part of graduation ceremonies and preludes to sporting events in the past.
“We can’t schedule a prayer at graduation, but if the student speaker wants to include one, and we don’t know it’s coming, that’s OK,” Neuenswander said.
Murry also said she thought it would be an advantage for Gideons International representatives to have permission to dispense Bibles in the schools — “They do at other districts in Allen County,” she said — rather than have to stand across streets on public property and hand out the books.
The Gideons provide Bibles to students through fifth grade.
“Last year was the Year of the Hospital,” Murry said. “This year should be the Year of the Child — every year should be — and bringing God back into the schools should be a part of it.”
Distribution of Bibles on school grounds is not permitted by board policy.
Patron questions prayer policy
