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From: ark@rabbit.UUCP (Andrew Koenig)
Newsgroups: net.politics,net.religion,net.flame
Subject: implication of a recent bill
Message-ID: <2683@rabbit.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 8-Apr-84 23:40:53 EST
Article-I.D.: rabbit.2683
Posted: Sun Apr  8 23:40:53 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 10-Apr-84 19:10:47 EST
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 27

I saw a few days ago that there is a bill before Congress which,
if passed, would require public schools to allow the use of their
property for religious activities organized by students.  I had
thought there was a Supreme Court ruling that it was unconstitutional
for public schools to do this, as it would be tantamount to government
subsidy of religious activity, something prohibited by the Constitution.
Be that as it may, there is a bill before Congress, called (I think)
the Equal Access bill, that would require public schools to allow
religious activity on their property.

My first reaction was that this bill was a good idea.  I didn't see any
good reason that students should not be allowed to do whatever they please
on school property before or after hours, provided that the logistics
could be adequately arranged and the pupils didn't do anything criminal.

On second thought, though, I see a trap door in the bill.  Suppose that
this bill passes and I am the principal of a public school.  Suppose further
that I am one of these people who has long wanted to force religion on
everyone, but my hands were tied until now.

What is there to stop me from decreeing that all extra-curricular activities
(such as sports, drama club, glee club, whatever) must begin and end with a
prayer?  My rationale would be this:  I am now required to permit religious
extra-curricular activities, but I CAN PROHIBIT ALL OTHERS!  Thus, I will
allow prayer+football, prayer+swimming, prayer+drama, and so on.

Let's keep the camel's nose out of the tent.