PRAYER IN THE SCHOOLS?

Victor Bloom MD

I understand the issue of prayer in the schools is again being hotly debated as we are again facing a schoolboard election. Without knowing who is for what, I think the debate would be furthered by an elaboration of what is meant by 'prayer'.

One version of prayer is one's personal dialogue with God, in which one prays for strength or protection or goodness. If God is Love and God is Good, then one prays to be good and loving, noble, courageous, generous, empathic, compassionate, forgiving and tolerant. One might seek the Lord's help to have faith, be trustworthy, loyal, dependable, honest and true.

Another version of prayer is more public; that is, to repeat a known prayer out loud, in unison with others. The most common prayer is "The Lord's Prayer", which most Christians and Jews know. But this prayer might not be known by Moslems, Hindus or Buddhists. Some prayers are specifically designated to be directed to Jesus or Mary. Others are directed to particular saints, calling for some intercession to the problems of everyday life, or looking for a cure of an illness or condition.

Some people actually pray for luck, luck in love or gambling. Some might pray to win the lottery or for the affections of a particular love-object. Others might pray for success in school, hoping for a high grade, or even a passing grade on a final exam. Others may pray to get into a particular school or profession, or an athletic team, or to win a game or a letter.

Some may pray for their fifteen minutes of fame, or maybe thirty minutes or longer. Some may pray to get a signed photograph of a Hollywood star or popular musician, or to be accepted by the Marine Corps or overlooked by the draft, or overlooked by the Internal Revenue Service.

Some may pray that their novel will be published or their screenplay made into a movie. Others pray for inspiration to write a poem or paint a picture or the ingenuity and skill to sculpt. Others may pray for acting or musical talent, or for a dancer's body or a runner's stamina. A common prayer is for health of body and mind.

We can see how prayer can be anything from a dialog with God or a wish for success or possessions. Most prayers are private and personal, as each person's conception of prayer and a divine presence is different and unique. And yet the debate about "prayer in the schools" is often about the central issue of the separation of church and state.

It can be seen that most prayer is personal and private, and yet much energy is invested on public shows of "religious' experience. Some people attach great importance to these public demonstrations, as if morality itself issues from public shows of what is apparently religious conviction. Religion can be taught at home or in church, and especially in parochial schools, and those who are most concerned about the separation of church and state insist that there be no religious experience in public schools.

It is one thing to teach about religion in general in public schools, as religion is part of culture and society, and is a prime source of civilization. It is another thing to enforce or promote a particular practice of a religious nature, which may include some and exclude others, according to personal religious belief or non-belief.

A middle ground in this debate, is for all sides to concede that some sort of introspective, meditative experience may be of value in the education and civilization of children. Therefore, what is called a moment of silent prayer, in which each child may not say anything out loud or in unison, might be encouraged, without harm to anyone. This way, each child has an opportunity, not to be judged by anyone, to use the time to his or her advantage.

For those few who feel that school prayer is a burning issue, and of great and grave importance, let them ask the candidates for the schoolboard election give their opinion as to what is prayer, what do they mean by prayer in the public school, and to state why they believe it is (1) an important issue, (2) what they mean by 'prayer', and (3) why it should be or not be promoted in the public schools. And then, in consideration of these answers, let the voter vote according to his or her own conscience.

And I pray that the issue will be resolved with a minimum of hard or hurt feelings, and that neither side will exaggerate the importance of its cause.

Dr. Bloom is a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst practicing in Grosse Pointe Park. He is Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, Wayne State University School of Medicine, and a Life-Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.