A federal judge wrongly restricted student-instigated prayer at
DeKalb County, Ala., schools. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals
in Atlanta handed down the ruling July 13, the Associated Press
reported. The 3-0 decision reversed a 1997 injunction issued by
U.S. District Judge Ira DeMent that curbed the rights of students
to pray and lead prayers in public schools. "The suppression of
student-initiated religious speech is neither necessary to, nor
does it achieve, constitutional neutrality toward religion," the
appeals court said. However, it let stand DeMent’s restrictions
against school officials leading religious activities, including
prayers.
...The case originated over teacher-led devotionals and pregame
prayers at athletic events. Also at issue was the distribution of
Bibles on school grounds by Gideons International . Michael Chandler, 
a former vice principal at Valley Head High School, claimed these school activities unconstitutionally promoted Christianity. The American Civil Liberties Union joined him in his suit.
...The ACLU said the decision partially supports its position.
"School teachers still can't grab students and ask them to pray
in a class, which is what they were doing in DeKalb County," ACLU
attorney Pamela Sumners said. But the organization said it still
may appeal the ruling.
..."This is a victory for all the school children in the public
schools of our state, that they do not surrender their
constitutional rights when they attend a public school in
Alabama," said Attorney General Bill Pryor. "They do not
surrender their religious faith and their religious beliefs."

Reprinted with permission from Religion Today, http://www.ReligionToday.com."

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