First, I think that there is more to this story.

I believe that a School should never be the sponsoring agency of a religious service.

Questions I have: Who led the prayers? Where multiple religions represented? Were multiple denominations of those religions represented? Who made the decisions on who should participate? Was this opened to the community? Were the faculty, staff and students coerced to be present and or participate?

Now if a community church group came to the school and said we would like to use your facility then ok but from your blog entry I gather that it is the school and school leadership is hosting the prayer meeting.

This is such a complex issue, I will be interested to see the conversation that develops - as long as you publish responses in a timely fashion.

After 7 years teaching in a Baltimore City neighborhood high school...I believe every major assembly we had involved prayers, hymnals and gospel songs. While it shocked me at first, I found that I came to expect it. Last year's graduation ceremony seemed to be about 'thanking God' for students' success more then their own hard work and dedication.

When I would bring this up among other teachers in other schools, they would confirm that this is rather 'normal' in Baltimore City Schools. It's not just Tench Tilghman. It's much larger then that.

This was clearly a bad idea, but not a new one to Baltimore. I cannot count the times I have gone to PDs or meetings where the room said grace over the food or prayed in some way. Most of my experiences are not non-denominational prayer but are very Christian-centric. Just recently I was, I can only assume, accidentally forwarded an e-mail about the saving powers of Christ from a North Ave. employee from their @bcps.k12.md.us address.

I know that Baltimore has a very large, very vocal, and very influential Christian community (especially in the school system), but this has bothered me every year for the last six years of my employment. Currently I have Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Agnostic, and Atheist students in my classroom. I won't allow the beliefs of 1/5 of that split to make the others feel ostracized by their own school system. Christian prayer has no place in diverse public schools. America is not a Christian nation, despite what many people would like to believe. The first amendment clearly outlines the legal precedent most of us boil down as "separation of church and state". If parents would like faith and prayer to be a part of their child's education, there are avenues for that via private schools or saturday/sunday religious classes.

As a final note: perhaps praying for MSA scores and performances sends out the wrong idea anyway. To me, praying for direct intervention seems to take the onus off the person praying. I am a religious person, but I don't pray for good observations... that's my job, not a deity's.

Prayer circles, prayer with children... this is happening frequently in MANY city schools.

Amen to that Brandon!!

I wonder what the murder rate was before they removed prayers from schools? Much lower would be my guess.

That's interesting, Tom Cherry. I wonder what gas prices were like before they removed prayers from schools? I bet they were much lower, too.

@Tom

Correlative evidence is easy to bend to your point. People with large hands are smarter than people with small ones. I gathered my data by giving the SAT to Teenagers and Infants. All the Teenagers scored higher than the infants and have bigger hands, therefore bigger hands = more intelligence.

The rise in the murder rate in Baltimore (like Detroit, DC, and other tough times cities) most likely has a much tighter relationship with the decline of industrial labor jobs and middle class flight from cities than it does with prayer in schools.

Much like ArtTeacherLady and Brandon I have seen and heard MANY assemblies, announcements, ceremonies, luncheons, etc that have included prayer. Choirs sing nothing but gospel music (at least the ones that I have seen). I thought it was common knowledge that this is not allowed in public schools. I think this demonstrates 2 major issues in BCPSS and they go way beyond praying in school: 1. Many school employees (more specifically, principals) allow this to take place either because they are completely ignorant and know very little about how to run a public school or they know the rules and overlook them. Either way, they need to go. 2. The school seems to be communicating that God and being "blessed" has more to do with achievement rather than the students' efforts. It is yet another way to reinforce the idea that the students are not at all responsible for their education. This is just holding them back.

It is insulting that Gittings/principals don't see or understand that even the impression of institutional support of any specific religion is not only wrong but unconstitutional. Why hasn't Alonso spoken out on this subject? Why are principals and North Ave allowed to continue to have religious services, grace, evoked Jesus Christ, etc.? I know in I complained to North Ave many times when I worked in the school system. The rights of the minority are not respected or even considered in BCPS. Policies and laws are worthless if not understood, followed or monitored.

I'm all for prayer in schools. I don't understand sometimes how people want to kick God out of every part of our lives - take Him out of our schools, out of our government, off of our currency - act like He doesn't exist - and then as soon as tragedy strikes - "How could God let this happen?!"

How can anyone walk through the halls of our Capital and honestly - be sincere with themselves - come away thinking that our founders did not want us to be grounded on Christian, I'll go as far as to say, Biblical, principles? Have you walked through those buildings? Have you read everywhere that Scripture is engraved in the steps, in the walls, over your head, under your feet? They held public prayer meetings in the Hall of Congress. They intended for those Biblical principles to be a part of what governs our country. One who would be honest and sincere with themselves would see that.

Separation of church and state did not mean to them what we've tortured it into meaning today. Study history - they came from a place where they did not have freedom to worship when and where they wanted to - they were forced by their government into one religion - a state religion. For them, coming to a new land and setting up separation from church and state meant that government could no longer dictate what religion you had to be, you were free to worship where and when you wanted. But now we've twisted that and tortured it into something that doesn't resemble it's true form at all, so the exact opposite intent of what our founders wanted is happening. Now we sequester those who would want to pray and tell them they can't, those who would practice their freedom of religion, that they might offend someone.

It is so frustrating to hear people say that we have to be tolerant and then see them turn around and pick out a group of people (specifically those who would believe Scripture as it is written) and show no tolerance at all.

So yes, I support prayer in schools. Not only do I believe it is far better than a lot of other things kids could be doing, but without a doubt, I believe it is what our country needs.

@Jane-- you are right, "they came from a place where they did not have freedom to worship when and where they wanted to - they were forced by their government into one religion - a state religion. For them, coming to a new land and setting up separation from church and state meant that government could no longer dictate what religion you had to be, you were free to worship where and when you wanted."

To hold prayer in school is to force other people's kids to take part in your religion, or to imply that the state favors one religion over another. In order to make sure all of us are 'free to worship where and when we want' we must honor the parents who send their children to us, and make sure we are respecting their right to raise their children according to their own religion and not according to ours.

I have been amused and a little troubled by this blog, but reading that Alonso might get out of Baltimore and go torment Chicago instead has made me more amenable to prayer in Baltimore Schools.

@Jane:

"As the Government of the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion; as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion, or tranquility, of Mussulmen; and, as the said States never entered into any war, or act of hostility against any Mahometan nation, it is declared by the parties, that no pretext arising from religious opinions, shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries." - Treaty of Tripoli, 1797.

Separation of Church and state, as an idea reinforced by the 1st ammendment, protects the rights of all religions by not enforcing any one doctrine. Yes Biblical quotes are on state buildings, usually quotes referencing justice, temprence, or equality... I don't support this idea any more than the topic here, but there is something to be said about the someone abject neutrality of these quotes. IE: The steps of the courthouse doesn't read "Jesus is the one true Messiah and any other belief is stupid". We are not a Christian nation, a belief otherwise will only create conflict with the vast majority of non-Christians in this fine country.

@Jane - When an American states the US should be a Muslim country (rather than Christian), they are hauled before a Congressional committee. If prayer to Jesus is in the schools then you are saying the schools/society accept and want children to learn that religion. What is the difference then between that view and the extremists in Iran? Sorry if this offends, but history proves that millions and millions have been murdered because of religious intolerance, in the name of Zeus, Jesus, Allah, etc.

The BTU opens its meetings with a Christian prayer and also sponsors a prayer breakfast in January. While this is not a church-state issue, it certainly echos the tone in BCPSS. As someone who is not a Christian, I feel marginalized by the school district and by the union to which I pay a handsome some every year. I was raised by religious parents who felt that one's religion was a very personal thing. It is not something to be imposed on others, ever. People may believe whatever they like and may feel free to practice their own religions. Let's keep it out of our public schools and out of our union.

@avalon - The difference being that one involves students, while the BTU example involves adults and is voluntary. That said, I completely agree with you that it echoes the tone in BCPSS. I am not Christian but have been required to participate in prayer circles, etc. This sort of thing is unprofessional and uncomfortable... it's not okay in the private sector, and certainly shouldn't be the norm in the public school system.