So, I was browsing about on Pinterest, and I ran across a board created by a woman who claims she was a "70s child." Most of the pins there were things from the 1970s, like Charlie's Angels, mood rings, and Avon solid perfume pins. Granted, she did have a couple of anachronisms, such as one pin of a drive-in movie theatre with all 1950s cars parked there.
But the pin that bothered me was one of kids saying the Pledge of Allegiance in a classroom -- and underneath the pic, the woman had written that she remember saying the Pledge every day, right after the prayer.
What the heck?!
We never prayed in school when I was a kid. (OK, at graduation ceremonies, yes, but it ALWAYS felt wrong and forced.) And I'm talking about Utah, here. Outside of the Vatican, it's pretty hard to find a more religious place. My older family members do not remember praying in school, either. And I'm not sure my parents ever did. (I'll have to ask.)
So, my question to you readers is this: if you attended a US public school as a child, did you pray in school? And if so, when did you attend and where? Obviously, some podunk town in Alabama in the 1940s would be more likely to have school prayer than New York City in the 1990s, but I am still curious. Could this woman actually be right and remember school prayer in a public school in the 1970s????
What do you think?
I really would like to know what school that was too. I remember always saying the Pledge of Allegiance, first thing in the morning, and one wouldn't even venture next into praying, unless perhaps she was in some private school? Maybe if there were nuns present at the school? I grew up in Michigan schools, and the only time I had praying was on our own (silently) if we wanted to before we ate our lunch. My in-laws still do this in public places when they eat.
ReplyDeleteMy first school year here in Salt Lake was 9th Grade in the 74-75 school year and I don't remember ever praying in school. Before that I was in the public school system in the Boston area, all the way back into the 60's. We said the pledge and even sang "America the Beautiful" and the national anthem, but never prayed. My parents were Atheists, I remember getting kicked out of the Boy Scouts for refusing to pray. I'm sure I would remember if we prayed in school.
ReplyDeleteOver in Illinois, I was in public schools for K-3 and recall standing for the pledge, singing some 'patriotic' song and that was all. Of course in grade 4-12 I was in Catholic schools and we prayed a lot! lol
ReplyDeleteWell, one would expect prayer in a private school founded by any religion. :)
DeleteThrough elementary scool in El Paso...yep. By sixth grade or so it seems it turned into a moment of silence. By high school it was done. I graduated in 76
ReplyDeleteOh dear. Texas. They are still frightening, aren't they? What with putting creationism into science textbooks instead of Sunday School manuals and all..... Sometimes I think their state legislators must be more nuts than Utah's.
DeleteI forgot to mention, though, that this comment is very helpful. It proves this lady may have been in school in Texas -- and not just confused about her memories.
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