With proposed constitutionally mandated school prayer facing public-school hildren, Jews ask the question. JENNIFER FINER AND JILL DAVIDSON SKLAR STAFF WRITERS ILLUSTRATIONS BY MICHAEL MCPARLANE law students such an amendment "will not stop the crisis of teen pregnancy, youth crime, domestic violence or raise SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) scores. Instead, things may begin to unravel and, perhaps fatally, weaken the American justice sys- tem and Constitution." Religious and civil libertarian groups are leading the current charge against school prayer. Two weeks ago, several or- ganizations, including the American Jew- ish Committee, released instructional pamphlets outlining when prayer and re- ligion are appropriate in school. ore than 30 years ago, Mr. Imerman and other children at- tending public schools continued the morning prayers until the Supreme Court banned such rituals in public-school classrooms. A series of subsequent Supreme Court decisions consistently ruled against school prayer, nullifying many state laws allow- ing for mandatory prayer or a moment of silence. Other Supreme Court cases ruled ac- tivities such as posting the Ten Com- mandments in a public school and school- sanctioned graduation prayers were unconstitutional. A debate on whether students can lead a prayer at graduation remains somewhat unclear. A moment of silence was seen as a way around some of the High Court rulings. Yet, today, it remains somewhat of an open question because the High Court struck down an Alabama law providing a mo- ment of silence for the sole purpose of prayer. A neutral moment of silence, how- ever, is allowed. Governing bodies, from the Oakland County Board of Commissioners to the U.S. Congress, have either tried to pass school-prayer legislation or have put such items on their agenda. U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich vowed Congress would vote on a prayer amendment by July 4. He and the Re- publicans have since backed away from that pledge. Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole said recently that Congress probably would not have time to address the issue during the current session. Still, several One month later, the State Board of Ed- pieces of prayer legislation have been in- ucation adopted a mission statement troduced in a number of governing bodies. Two bills were introduced in the U.S. which touched on the school-prayer issue, House of Representatives: one would start stating in part: "Religion, morality and the process of amending the Constitution knowledge are necessary to good govern- to permit "individual or group prayer in ment and the happiness of mankind, so public schools or other public institutions"; therefore schools and the means of edu- the other proposes a constitutional amend- cation shall forever be encouraged." Kathleen Straus, a member of the State ment to permit voluntary prayer. Congress tried unsuccessfully to amend the Con- Board of Education, voted against the mis- sion statement. But, Ms. Straus is not stitution six times in the last 31 years. In December, the Oakland County overly concerned about school prayer. She Board of Commissioners failed to pass a is worried about the future of Michigan's voluntary-prayer resolution. If the mea- public schools. "I think prayer in school is lower on the sure had passed, it would not have had di- rect impact on students. However, it would state board's agenda," Ms. Straus said. have sent a pro-prayer message to law- "What concerns me is that the board is working hard to change public education makers in Lansing and Washington. The failed proposal stated: "The Oak- so it's driven by market forces..." Several pieces of school-prayer legis- land County Board of Commissioners strongly believes that reinstitution of vol- lation have been introduced in the state untary prayer in the public school is one House and Senate. A handful of Senate bills would allow step in the restoration of religious choice guaranteed by the Constitution and will public schools to post or read out loud a assist in moving this nation toward those list of documents, excluding none because religious rights and beliefs upon which the of religious content. Documents include the preamble to the Michigan Constitu- nation was founded."