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Justice Anthony Kennedy, was
joined by Harry Blackmun, John
Paul Stevens, Sandra Day
O'Connor and David Souter.
"No holding by this court sug-
gests that a school can persuade
or compel a student to partici-
pate in a religious exercise," Jus-
tice Kennedy wrote. "This is
being done here, and it is for-
bidden by the Constitution.
"Our society would be less
than true to its heritage if it
lacked abiding concern for the
values of its young people," he
wrote. "And we acknowledge the
profound belief of adherence to
many faiths and that there be
a place in the student's life for
precepts of a morality — high-
er even than the law today we
enforced."
Dissenters were Clarence
Thomas, Antonin Scalia, Byron
White and William Rehnquist.
The decision "lays waste to a
tradition that is as old as pub-
lic school graduation ceremonies
themselves," Mr. Scalia wrote.
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Students Debate
Prayer In Schools
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Mr. Scalia said the ruling also
harms "an even more long- I
standing American tradition of
non-sectarian prayer to God at
public celebrations, generally."
As Mr. Blackmun, the most
liberal justice, prepares for re-
tirement, the laws governing the
separation of church and state
still could change.
During the past four years,- -1
Lone Pine teacher Amy Cutler
has sensed an uncertain politi-
cal climate across the country _
which she fears could change the
nation's standards on the sepa-
ration of church and state.
A group of parents m Bloom=
field Hills has advocated Christ-
mas celebration at school.
President George Bush and his
administration have publicly
stated their support for a mo-
ment of silence for prayer in pub-
lic schools.
And the State of Washington's
Republican Party this week ad-
vocated in its platform prayer in
public schools.
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ecent high school gradu-
ate Rebecca Grant never
gave much thought to
prayer in public schools.
Then, two weeks ago, she at-
tended Birmingham Groves
High School's annual Girls'
Track and Field banquet.
Before dinner, a student stood
up and gave an invocation men-
tioning God. Rebecca, one of a
handful of Jewish females on the
team, didn't know how to react.
Like many Jewish students
enrolled in public schools, the
thought of prayer at a school
function made her uneasy.
"It was just a prayer, but it
made me feel real uncomfort-
able," said Rebecca, 18. "There
were all these students with
their heads in their hands, and
the Jewish students were just
looking at each other, wonder-
ing, 'what do we do now?"
Rebecca's dilemma came just
weeks before the U.S. Supreme
Court affirmed a 30-year old ban
on prayer in public school.
"Invocations or benedictions
are against school policy," said
Mr. Lentz, Grove's principal,
who was at the banquet. "Yes,
an invocation did occur, but it
shouldn't have."
At Groves, as in many other
metro Detroit public schools,
coaches and teachers learn about
school policy at the beginning of
each athletic and academic sea-
son. Mr. Lentz said he will once
again clarify this policy for the
coach who allowed the prayer to
be said at the dinner.
Rebecca's brother, Michael, a
junior at Groves, faced a similar
experience at his cross country
team's banquet. There, a Mor-
mon student gave the invocation,
using the name of Jesus, before
dinner.
"I felt a little uncomfortable,"
said Michael, 16. "I'm the only
Jew on the team."
Ben Spector, 18, who gradu-
ated this month from North
Farmington High School, be-
lieves in unconditional separaa
tion of church and state.
"No public school should urge
children to find religion," said
Ben, outgoing senior class pres-
ident. "It's just not the school's
place. If I want to pray, I can go
to a private, religious school."
Bradley Dock, 18, a recent
graduate of the private Detroit
Country Day School, does not see
any harm in mentioning God.
"I think it's a good idea as long
as no particular religion is
pushed," Bradley said. "If stu-
dents don't get it (religion) at
home, at least they can be ex-
posed to it in school."
Bradley thinks a moment of--,
silence can be beneficial "as long
as it is not geared specifically to
Christian people. I wouldn't
want it geared toward Jewishc-
people, either."
Rachel Jacobs, 16, a senior at
Berkley High School, believes
permitting moments of silence
will start to chip away at the
U.S. Constitution.
"Once they start, they'll justg-,
keep going," Rachel said. "The
only guarantee is not to start.
"I turn to my youth group or
temple for religion," she added. --
"Let us pursue our religious be-
liefs on our own time." 0