The first thing every morning in early elementary school days was the class standing to recite the American flag Pledge of Allegiance followed by the Lord’s Prayer.
It was a solemnizing pacifying time expressing appreciation for the diverse blessings often taken for granted. Not that the teacher and classmates were forced to do the recitations, it was seemingly an automatic, perhaps even enjoyable action, which should be done.
Then in 1963, the Supreme Court repeatedly ruled that school-mandated prayers in public schools were unconstitutional. Reflections of that action are not recalled precisely, but students no longer prayed in public schools.
At about the same time, many classes stopped saying the Pledge of Allegiance too. Rulings decades earlier had made it illegal to force students to salute the flag, although local classes were saying the pledge because they wanted to.
Uncertain but the flag salute is evidently not recited by today’s elementary students. However, states can still require it while offering exemptions allowing students to opt out on their own.
Thankfully, the Pledge of Allegiance is still said along with a prayer to open certain public sessions.
Return of prayer in school is vaguely possible in the foreseeable future.
Louisiana has become the first state to require that the Ten Commandments be displayed in every public-school classroom under a bill signed into law by Republican Governor Jeff Landry
The legislation mandates that a poster-sized display of the Ten Commandments in “large, easily readable font” is required in all public classrooms, from kindergarten to state-funded universities.
Proponents say the purpose of the measure is not solely religious, but that it has historical significance. In the law’s language, the Ten Commandments are described as “foundational documents of our state and national government.”
Not long after the bill was signed into law, civil rights groups and organizations that want to keep religion out of government promised to file a lawsuit challenging it.
While legal battles over displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms are not new, this recent action gives optimism of prayers returning to schools.
Reminded of Psalm 34:7: “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them” Prayer: “Lord, stay the hand of violence against the children, their families, and staff of this school. Dismantle any plan to bring harm to them.”
+++ALLELUIA+++
XVIII–28–7-8-2024
