Saturday, August 22, 1998

It's time to seek common ground in debate over school prayer

By Ken Garfield

Knight Ridder Newspapers

The debate over school prayer is going to rage long after our children have graduated.

But as millions of public school students head back to class for a new school year, we ought to quit arguing long enough to realize there is some common ground to stand on.

We ought to be able to see how difficult it is to obey the Constitution and balance the beliefs (or nonbeliefs) of every single student.

Whether we want the schoolhouse door open to every religious expression or slammed in the face of faith, we ought to agree that educators are trying their best to build a system that respects all sides while favoring none.

It's never going to be easy putting that principle into practice. Charlotte-Mecklenburg (N.C.) Assistant Superintendent Barbara Pellin talks about trying to build a bridge to connect both sides. School board attorney Leslie Winner talks about kids being able to hold hands and bless their food in the cafeteria - so long as they don't try to pressure students beside them to join in.

Whether or not they succeed on every issue, at least our educators are trying to make this work, and that's the important thing.

But maybe even more important is realizing how much we can do about the issue of faith in the schools, beyond arguing about it.

In any district, avoe all, we can consult first and complain later.

If you feel like your child has been denied the right to free expression - or denied the right not to express himself - talk to the teacher. If that doesn't settle the issue, talk to the principal, then to a district administrator if need be. Finding a compromise might be worth more than writing an angry letter to the editor.

At the end of every summer, we ask our kids to go back to school enthusiastic, cooperative, willing to rise to the challenge, willing to look for the good in every situation.

Maybe if we embrace the same positive attitude this year, the issue of prayer in the schools will be the least of our worries.

(Ken Garfield is the religion editor at The Charlotte Observer. Write to him at: The Charlotte Observer, 600 S. Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28232.)

(c) 1998, The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.).

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