Lawmakers Sit On The Fence JENNIFER FINER STAFF WRITER en members of Michigan's con- gressional delega tion were asked their position on prayer in the public schools, some voiced sen- timents along party lines. Oth- er respondents were ambiguous about their position. Still others did not respond to Jewish News questions about school prayer. Republican leadership in the nation's capital has said a vote on a constitutional school- prayer amendment is-unlike- ly. However, the prayer issue has received a good deal of at- tention since Newt Gingrich vowed a congressional vote on a prayer amendment by July 4 and several members of Con- gress introduced prayer legis- lation. In a written response out- lining his position, Rep. John Conyers, a Detroit Democrat, said, "I'm opposed to govern- ment-coerced prayer." Democratic Rep. Bart Stupak, of the Upper Peninsula, said govern- ment should not devise school prayer. "I firmly believe that government, whether it's federal, state or lo- cal, should not compose official prayers for pub- lic-school children to re- cite. However, I am generally supportive of a moment of silence or per- sonal reflection for students." A spokesperson from Rep. Peter Hoekstra's office said the Republican lawmaker from Holland is opposed to state- sponsored prayer but is likely to support a moment of si- lence. U.S. Senator Spencer Abra- ham, a Michigan Republican, also supports a voluntary mo- ment of silence, according to one of his staff members. Bloomfield Hills Rep. Joe Knollenberg, a Republican, said he would hesitate to support any mandatory public-school prayer amendment. "Such an amend- ment would inherently raise a host of other questions and con- cerns," he said. "The relationship between church and state is fragile and we should exercise great cau- tion before tampering with the balance the Founding Fathers created," he said. WI Cr) LLJ Cr) LLJ "J CC I- LL) LL, F- 41 ❑ tion, the Declaration of Indepen- silence is something to fight dence and any writing, speech, against. "There is a fear that the mo- document or proclamation of the Founding Fathers of the United ment of silence will be a stalking States, some of whom were or- horse for something more," Mrs. dained ministers. This bill would Imerman said. "Once you open allow their sermons to be read by one door, you have to wonder what comes next." a public-school teacher. The New York-based Agudath A separate state Senate reso- lution asks the U.S. Congress to Israel, an Orthodox movement pass and submit to the state leg- concerned with education, takes islatures an amendment to the a similar stance. "We are not in support of any U.S. Constitution to allow prayer legislation that would force any in school. he AJC's Ms. Abrahms Jewish student to attend any speaks from experience place where a nondenomination- when she says school al prayer was being said," said prayer has the potential to Rabbi Avi Shafran, spokesperson single out children at an age for Agudath Israel. "We would when they do not want to feel dif- much rather see no prayer in the ferent. As the only Jewish stu- schools." But this by no means defines dent in her Gadsden, Ala., high school, she felt ostracized each the entire Orthodox community, morning when her teacher would which tends to espouse political- begin a prayer with the petition: ly conservative viewpoints. The "Let us pray for the one among question has splintered Orthodox Jews. Many Lubavitch Jews are us who is not a believer." "This is my fear about school not opposed to school prayer. 'The prayer: that there will always be rebbe took a position on the issue that one teacher who wants to a long time ago," said Yitschak make that one person in the class M. Kagan, with the Lubavitch Foundation of Michigan. "I'd say the Lubavitch are not opposed to a nondenominational prayer in public schools. However, if that cannot be achieved, we actively support a moment of silence." Toward Tradition, with 10,000 members nationwide, agrees with the Lubavitch position. Rabbi Lapin sees the po- litical pendulum swinging more to the right and he be- lieves Jews would be wise to join that movement. He feels liberal Jewish thought can be catastrophic for the fu- ture of American Jews. "The first and most crucial part of our approach is that at a time when a majority of Americans are mov- ing toward the right politically, economically, culturally, we ques- tion the wisdom of the Jewish a believer in his religion," Ms. community remaining the most visible and the most outspoken Abrahms said. Her fear is shared by others advocate for yesterday's discred- who vow to fight everything from ited policies," he said, adding that nondenominational prayer to a he doesn't see a problem with nondenominational prayer. "I am moment of silence. One of her compatriots, Miri- more concerned with the public- am Imerman of the Jewish Corn- relations catastrophe than with munity Council of Metropolitan the putative peril of little Jacob Detroit, feels Jews are at risk or little Rebecca saying a prayer from the "majority rule" in the to God in the morning." Even if Congress amends the arena of religion. "Because we are in the minor- Constitution, it must be ratified ity, our natural psyche gets tense by a majority in three-quarters when our leaders impose religion of the states. The last time an amendment and we know the religion is not going to be ours," Mrs. Imerman was added to the Constitution was in 1971, when Congress gave said. To her, something as seem- citizens 18 and older in every ingly innocuous as a moment of state the right to vote. ❑ T Gray Areas Cloud Prayer In School JILL DAVIDSON SKLAR STAFF WRITER T he shade of gray has come to symbolize more than a rainy day, especially in the arena of prayer in public schools. The issue, at times clouded by emotion, has been brought time after time to lower courts that subsequently make con- tradictory decisions. The Supreme Court is then left to decide what is constitutional and what is not. In many cases little has been decided, which means local school districts are left to make the determination. In response to calls for a con- stitutional amendment man- dating prayer, the Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Commit- tee have released guidelines on religion and prayer in Ameri- ca's public schools. The following are answers to frequently asked questions: When is voluntary prayer in public school legal? No Supreme Court ruling bars a student from praying qui- etly at any time as long as it does not cause a disruption in class. Many prayers are said before and during tests in pub- lic schools. Oral group prayers are also allowed during free time. ing that time. The Supreme Court ruled in 1985 that the goal. of a law in Alabama was to support such activity. If the teacher or principal wants to settle the kids down before the start of class, a neu- tral moment of silence may be called. Is teaching religion ac- ceptable? Teaching about religion is al- lowed in public school; for ex- ample, through their advanced classes, Berkley and Oak Park students can take Comparative Religions, an elective. Also, im- pact of religion on events such as the Holocaust or the Cru- sades can be taught in history class. Teachers of the subjects must remain neutral to the subject and cannot favor or disparage any religion. Can students use public- school grounds to prosely- tize other students? Some districts have specific policies which would render the practice unacceptable. Students who attend public schools have a right not to be coerced when it comes to their personal reli- gious beliefs. Students do have a limited right to free speech which al- lows them to distribute religious literature on school grounds. However, the school can limit when and where the distribu- tion occurs. Adults cannot distribute such materials on school grounds. In- stead, they are allowed to do so on public property off school grounds. Students are also allowed to invite each other to attend their religious observances, it is per- fectly acceptable, for instance, for a student to invite a friend to a bar mitzvah celebration. What about a prayer at a public-school graduation when school is no longer in session? Prayers at public-school grad- uations delivered by officials of the school or a member of the clergy were found by the Supreme Court to violate the Establishment Clause which separates church and state. However, a nonsectarian, nonproselytizing prayer initi- ated and delivered by students has been found by an appeals court to serve a secular purpose Can school administra- that did not involve government tors or teachers lead a reli- or endorse religion. Yet another court found that gious activity in a public graduation events are manda- school? Because the teachers and ad- tory and therefore a prayer, by students or officials, would vio- ministrators work for the state, late the Establishment Clause. and because the state does not advocate a religion, they are If a prayer is allowed dur- usually barred from leading the ing some circumstances, prayer groups. That doesn't mean that a then is a moment of silence teacher cannot attend such an allowed? No, if the sole purpose is to event; they just can't act in their induce the students to pray dur- official capacity.