School prayer and the Golden Rule

To the editor:

Many Christians have advocated the reintroduction of prayer in the public schools. There already is prayer in the schools. Every student has a constitutional right to pray anytime during school as long as it does not disrupt school activities. The courts have gone one step further and have allowed school property to be used for Bible study during lunch breaks and after school, thus giving religious groups the same right of access that other not-for-profit groups have. What has been deemed unconstitutional is a teacher leading a classroom prayer.

Imagine school prayer is part of the public-school day in America. Imagine you are a third-grader and Hindu. The school day begins with a reading from the Bible and a prayer. How does that make you feel?

Jesus said in Matthew 7:12 "Do unto to others as you have them do unto to you." It's called the Golden Rule. Yet some Christians insist that the government legislate a teacher-led Christian prayer into the school day. Is alienating children of different faiths practicing the Golden Rule?

Christianity does not need teachers or other agents of the state to preach its message. It does not need schools to house its followers. It has ministers and churches that are far better positioned to care for its flock. Leave it to the state to mold children's minds and religion to touch children's hearts.

MATTHEW RYAN, Cape Girardeau