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Agree? Teacher Orders Public School Students to Pray & Sing to Jesus — And Keeps Her Job (Take the Poll)

Oct. 18, 2012 10:13am Billy Hallowell

Prayer in public schools is a controversial subject — one that riles both social conservatives and ardent atheist activists, alike. Considering the furor surrounding the subject, one public school teacher’s recent actions and the New York City Department of Education’s response are noteworthy.

Last week, The New York Daily News reported that Michelle Schindelheim, 47, a teacher in NYC, was recently disciplined after she admitted ordering her students at Bronx Middle School 301 to pray to Jesus. Administrators first took notice of the church-state violation in March 2011, after students complained that Schindelheim was forcing Christian prayers on them.

NYC Public School Teacher Orders Kids to Pray to Jesus & Keeps Her Job

Photo Credit: Associated Press

According to her pupils, right before Christmas 2010, the English as a Second Language teacher apparently stopped class and asked her students to speak to the Christian savior. Not only were the youngsters told to talk to the Lord, but she apparently also asked them to “sit in a circle and sing” as well.

The students reportedly recited the Lord’s Prayer in Spanish and Schindelheim called her priest, putting him on speakerphone so that he could hear the prayers. And, to add icing to the proverbial cake, she also asked her class to “re-enact scenes from the life and death of Jesus.”

When she was later questioned about the incident, the teacher, who has been instructing in the city for the past 21 years, confessed to the aforementioned allegations. Schindelheim told officials that she now recognizes that it was a bad idea, The Daily News reports. She credited her actions to extreme stress that she was experiencing in her personal life at the time.

NYC Public School Teacher Orders Kids to Pray to Jesus & Keeps Her Job

The veteran teacher also admitted that she knew this sort of curriculum wasn’t appropriate for public school students. Not long after the incident took place, Schindelheim took a medical leave. While the district inevitably disciplined her, she has been permitted to keep her job, but was given a letter in her file as a result of the incident.

Considering the ongoing battles that rage over the separation of church and state, the teacher’s actions were clearly controversial. While some would have advocated for her dismissal, the district chose to keep her on staff.

Considering this scenario and another involving alleged Islamic indoctrination on the part of a teacher in Virginia, TheBlaze has a variety of questions about the separation of church and state. Should the NYC teacher have been fired? Should public school teachers have the right to read the Bible and recite prayers in classrooms? Take our Urtak poll, below:

Prayer in Public Schools

(H/T: New York Daily News)

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Comments (167)

zman61
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:49am
terrible poll.the question is leading. I (not religious myself) but grew up in a christian family and have no problem with religion. I see no problem at all with children praying in school but no having a teacher “lead” or force students to do so. If it is a religious based school then I think that anyone that is there is there “because” the school is religion based. Then it is appropriate for a teacher there to lead a prayer.

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- UpholderOftheConstitution
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 11:09am
  Zman, I agree. I refute the “separation of church and state” BS (show me in the constitution and the 1947 SC ruling be damned), but I also understand that a public school is not a place to indoctrinate period. I believe a student should be allowed to express their religion peacefully in the school (praying, carrying their Bible or Koran, or talking openly of their faith), but I completely disagree that a teacher should MAKE students do as such.
  
  I believe a teacher can be open about their faith but not in a way that indoctrinates another to that by forcing the student to submit to a religious viewpoint. And it is common sense when that happens, i.e. stopping a classroom discussion because the teacher disagrees with a students point whether it be for or against evolution or something of that nature. A classroom is a place of ideas, theories, and facts and assumptions.
  
  Report this comment
- Zer0
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 11:12am
  Agreed…that poll question does not even have anything to do with the article. The question should be “Should teachers have the power or authority to ORDER students to pray?”
  
  Report this comment
- WhiteFang
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 11:21am
  Is it possible to force someone to pray or sing if they do not want too?
  
  Report this comment
- The-Monk
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 11:35am
  FYI,
  
  EtchASketch is a paid troll…
  
  Don’t bother replying to it because that’s what it wants.
  
  Report this comment
- PATTY HENRY
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 11:52am
  We used to bow our heads for a moment (supposedly to do whatever we wanted do; pray or just be quiet) then we would say the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE and start our day! It was a wonderful time,
  and now looking back I see clearly the wisdom of doing this: 1. Settle kids down 2. Moment to feel close to God and to quiet our mind 3. Moment to feel loyalty to our Country ALL of these reminding kids of the “big purpose”.
  I do not think that TEACHERS should lead prayers for obvious reasons. IF we must deny teachers their “right” to teach kids that bloody ISLAM, then unless it’s a CATHOLIC SCHOOL (highly recommend) or other Christian or Jewish School or specialized Faith School, there should be no teaching of a specific RELIGIOUS techniques…unless the class is no-biased explanation of the world’s faiths…you know what I’m saying…but NEVER should some teacher try to imprint her personal faith on a child. SILLY ISLAMICS anyway… if it were a real faith, people would be drawn to it/to them by their very existence – NOT BY FORCE. Glenn said the teacher enforcing Islamic hand sign was supposedly fired. I hope so. PARENTS? GET INVOLVED IN YOUR SCHOOLS…you know, one morning you’ll wake up and your kids will all be grown and it will hit you…”was that it?” “Did I just raise x # of kids?” and presto…it’s gone!! so BE INVOLVED NOW while you can!!1
  
  Report this comment
- johnjamison
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 12:26pm
  I don’t believe prayer should removed from school but I also don’t think it should be taught either.
  If a teacher wants to pray let her if a student wants to pray let them if a coach wants to lead a prayer for his team let him and let those who wish to join him do so and those who wish not to join him do so as well.
  
  Report this comment
- bobdiamond
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 12:37pm
  Do you remember just after Obama was inaugerated, they had those school children singing his praises, if they can do that then I don’t what is wrong with what this teacher did. Read political commentary at: http://smallcraftadvisorychronicles.blogspot.com/
  
  Report this comment
- MarsBarsTru7
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 12:47pm
  1st, there is a difference between FORCING someone to participate in a religion or forcing them to refrain from religious expression and/or study VERSUS ALLOWING them to. Allowing someone to express and/or study religion is guaranteed by our Constitution. The last place a person should be restricted from expressing and/or studying religion is a public institution, especially public schools. For a public school to ban religious expression and/or study is essentially forcing an atheist environment on the faculty and students, in direct violation of their rights.
  
  The only place anyone should be prohibited from expressing and/or studying religion to their hearts desire is in a private institution, such as a private school. If atheists want their children to go to schools where religion isn’t taught at all, then they should find a completely secular private school to send their children to – not restrict the religious rights of everyone else because they don’t follow a religion. Just as anyone who wants their children taught a specific religious doctrine in school must send their children to the appropriate private school to get this religious instruction, so shouldn’t secularists do the same for their children. PERIOD. END OF DISCUSSION.
  
  Freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion.
  
  Report this comment
- ArmedPatriot
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 4:18pm
  Sorry, but I don’t want this in public schools be it Islamic, Buddhist, Christian or Hindoo prayer. Keep it out of the classroom. Tell the kids to rise and recite the multiplication tables and we might be able to compete again!
  
  Report this comment
- Locked
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 7:07pm
  @Marsbars
  
  You went on an entire rant about an issue that doesn’t seem to be the topic at hand. Students are free to pray in school. Teachers, however, should never, EVER lead religious prayers in school and make their class join in.
  
  Report this comment
- liberty49
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 7:18pm
  If teachers can and have forced students to take a Muslim name, pray to Allah, dress like Muslims, etc., then yes they should also be allowed to require them to pray to Jesus!
  
  Report this comment
- ChrisDiamond
  Posted on October 19, 2012 at 7:11pm
  Sadly, the expanse of Islam and Muslim teachers in the public education system will be enhanced, as opposed to hindered, through efforts to have, maintain or expand religious education in public schools. Yes, you all know I am an atheist, but I point this out for your consideration. If Christians obtain a victory through the mandated teaching of religion and Christian-centric education, you have to understand the Muslim groups will likewise demand the right to do the same, and expose our children to Islam, whether we want them to, or not. They will claim (and correctly) that you demanded religious education in the public schools, but are now attempting to discriminate against education in Islam. The schools will not be able to defend Christian-centric or Christian only religious education because that will be argued as being against the establishment clause of the 1st amendment. And bound by duty to the law and Constitution, you know damned good and well, the judges will declare (justly) that Islam must be allowed to be taught alongside Christianity in schools. That’s what I meant when I said, “Be careful what you wish for.”
  
  Realizing this is one of the reasons I so staunchly resist religious education of any kind in the public school systems. If you want your children to receive religious education/indoctrination, then provide that to them in your homes and churches. Do not give that responsibility OR POWER to the public education system!!
  
  Report this comment
angiea
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:47am
The difference IS 1. Children nor Parents complained about the Christian teacher, maybe because they were christian children already and didn’t mind. 2. The Christian teacher did not ASSAULT any child during the prayers, as did the Muslim teacher who injured a child when she savagely grabbed and twisted the little girls arm, causing a bleeding gash. Readers: Try to always step away and discern situations,

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- encinom
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 11:07am
  The teacher only violated the Constitution rights of the Students by demanding they pray to her made deity. She should be fired and teacher’s license revoked.
  
  Report this comment
- Waterlylys
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 12:11pm
  ENCINOM: Separation of Church and State is not in the Constitution (SoC&S), it is an erroneous ruling by a liberal Supreme Court. While I don’t agree that a teacher should be allowed to force a student to pray any prayer, we cannot call on the SoC&S, it isn’t a constitutional issue.
  
  Report this comment
- colt1860
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 12:23pm
  @Enci It’s a NYC school, wherein in ultra leftist public Unions make the calls. They don’t let go of teachers that easily, even bad ones, thanks to the ignorant liberals.
  
  Report this comment
- encinom
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 1:48pm
  Waterlylys
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 12:11pm
  
  ENCINOM: Separation of Church and State is not in the Constitution (SoC&S), it is an erroneous ruling by a liberal Supreme Court. While I don’t agree that a teacher should be allowed to force a student to pray any prayer, we cannot call on the SoC&S, it isn’t a constitutional issue.
  ______________________
  Its a CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE, there are court rulings on it. You don’t like the Constitution or the role the Courts play and ignore the facts. Fact is there is no pray in a public school, as the Courts have read the 1st and 14th Amendments. Fact is we are a secular nation with secular laws, the terms Separation of Church and State is only legal short hand for the establishment clause and the jurisprudence surrounding it.
  
  Report this comment
- colt1860
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 2:33pm
  “as the Courts have read the 1st and 14th Amendments.”
  
  They can’t read.
  
  The liberal’s logic makes so much sense. Let’s see. Our “deist” Representatives wrote our Declaration of Independence making references to our Creator, and appealed to his Authority. Our “non-religious” Delegates wrote our Declaration in a public building wherein a bell had scripture engraved on it. Our secular founders swore to defend and support our secular Constitution and all secular laws following by taking their constitutional Oath on the Holy Bible, and voluntarily stating “So help me God” right after. Our secular Government also held public prayer at the beginning of every session of our godless Congress. Our secular military also attended Christian devine services on Sundays under the administrations of “deists” Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Quincy, Madison, et al. Our secular Supreme Court has always invoked the aid of God before every session. Either, our secular founders were all hypocrites, liars, and brain dead or the liberals are misinformed, close minded, brain washed, indoctrinated, and wrongfully applying the word “secular” in reagards to our history in order to deceptively advance their Marxist agenda.
  
  Father of the Constitution, James Madison, stated, “Do not separate text from historical background. If you do, you will have perverted and subverted the Constitution, which can only end in a distorted, bastardized form of illegitimate government.”
  
  Report this comment
- encinom
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 3:21pm
  Funny, you mention James Madison, lets see what he thinks of mixing religion and the State…
  
  Nothwithstanding the general progress made within the two last centuries in favour of this branch of liberty, & the full establishment of it, in some parts of our Country, there remains in others a strong bias towards the old error, that without some sort of alliance or coalition between Gov’ & Religion neither can be duly supported: Such indeed is the tendency to such a coalition, and such its corrupting influence on both the parties, that the danger cannot be too carefully guarded agst.. And in a Gov’ of opinion, like ours, the only effectual guard must be found in the soundness and stability of the general opinion on the subject. Every new & successful example therefore of a perfect separation between ecclesiastical and civil matters, is of importance. And I have no doubt that every new example, will succeed, as every past one has done, in shewing that religion & Gov will both exist in greater purity, the less they are mixed together; [James Madison, Letter to Edward Livingston, July 10, 1822, The Writings of James Madison, Gaillard Hunt]
  
  I do believe the Father of the Constitution would be appalled at the rights crusade against the doctrine of Separation of Church and State.
  
  Report this comment
- colt1860
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 4:34pm
  Madison, like other fouders, were against ecclesiastical INSTITUTIONS in bed with Government. He was against there being a Priesthood within Government, and body of clergyment acting as public officials. That’s a far cry from condemning religious principes in public, or being hostile to religion.
  
  The fact that you quoted that shows your ignorance and indoctrination by the ultra left which can’t study history within context or revelance.
  
  The fact that you can’t distinguish principles and values from institutions and organizations proves that you blindly follow the left and their deluded assertions.
  
  Report this comment
- encinom
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 4:55pm
  No Colt, the fact is that you believe the lies of Barton and Beck. Madison spoke against the marriage of the two institution, something you are seeking to defend. Also, you are a member of the Cult of the Founders, unaware that the history continued after ratification of the Bill of Rights, there are other Amendments and Court decisions that have happened since than. Like most Christians fools you dismiss the opinions of the Supreme Court and instead rely on the writings of hucksters selling pseudo history to fundies.
  
  Report this comment
- colt1860
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:12pm
  Religion by itself is NOT an institution. Madison was speaking about actual and real institutions, establishments and organizations, not about faith, morals and values. Do you beleive the Supreme Court is infallible?
  
  Report this comment
- encinom
  Posted on October 19, 2012 at 5:12pm
  @colt1860
  
  I trust the courts more than I trust high priests and priestess. The courts change, those selling religious dogma punish those that dare to seek change.
  
  Face it Madison would be appalled at state officials, teachers, etc. preaching on the tax payer’s dollar. While you do not care for a the Country, I am glad there is a court that will block the Christian Taliban’s crusade to destroy the republic and replace it with a Theocracy.
  
  No one is preventing State workers from practicing their religion on their time, on the tax payer’s dime no preaching.
  
  Report this comment
- ChrisDiamond
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 9:50am
  COLT1860/ENCINOM and others…
  
  The unintended consequences of this push for religion in schools is glaring and completely overlooked by the evangelicals, in my opinion. If they continue pushing for religious education in schools, then they must understand that they will not be able to prevent Islam from being taught alongside their Christianity. The schools/states/nation cannot violate the establishment clause in the 1st amendment, and so Muslims would win any and every court case where they sued to teach Islam in public schools.
  
  I understand the passion and fervor behind the Christian Right’s position on this matter, but it is woefully dangerous to dismiss what I am proposing as an unintended consequence. I have been attacked for denouncing and hoping against religious sanction/promotion in schools, but people fail to understand my scenario above as the reason. They just think I hate Christianity and freedom. Well, I am not fond of Christianity to be sure, and I hold Islam with equal disdain… I want BOTH kept out of schools because I realize that if one of them is allowed in schools, we will not be able to prevent the other.
  
  Report this comment
- Pontiac
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 11:07pm
  [encinom: The teacher only violated the Constitution rights of the Students by demanding they pray to her made deity. She should be fired and teacher’s license revoked.]
  
  @Waterlylys
  [ENCINOM: Separation of Church and State is not in the Constitution (SoC&S),]
  
  Encinom said nothing about “separation of church and state” but don’t let that stop you from steering the conversation away from from the Constitutional rights of everyone held captive in a government class room…
  
  [it isn’t a constitutional issue.]
  The hell it isn’t. She violated the Civil Rights of every student in her class. Your rights stop where the rights of others start.
  
  Report this comment
momrules
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:46am
I grew up with a daily prayer in school. We pledged allegiance to the flag under God too and none of us suffered because of it. That being said, even our Lord did not force people to pray.

Prayer forced on someone is not praying to God, it is doing what an authority figure demands of you.That is the type of behavior I expect out of Muslims, not Christians.

I don’t think the teacher needs to be fired. Let’s give her the same break we give every liberal that abuses their authority in the classroom.

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- TrailBlazer66
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 11:06am
  Good post!
  
  Report this comment
- WhiteFang
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 11:30am
  No person can force another to pray or sing.
  No person can prevent another from praying or singing.
  We have free will and the right to uphold our own standards according to our conscience. You may be punished for not cooperating, but you still have the right and the ability to worship as you wish, or not to worship if you want.
  This matter of forcing someone to conform to a prescribed code of conduct has long ago been proven ineffective.
  
  Report this comment
- kryptonite
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 11:56am
  @WHITEFANG
  An adult in an authority position can force young students (induce, if they are older) to do almost anything. We just saw proof of that with these two teachers. It’s known as abuse of power, and it is very real.
  
  Report this comment
- WhiteFang
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 12:19pm
  The only way a person can be forced to comply is if they yield to the pressure to accept the teaching or the ideology.
  What I am saying is we have the ability to choose who and how we individually worship our Creator. Integrity is the issue here and a person of integrity will always do as his conscience leads him. If his conscience permits him to be dictated too, then he will comply to a disagreeable order. There are too many people willing to cast their principles aside to appease their controller.
  
  Will a genuine Christian let himself be led into a false teaching by another individual?
  
  Report this comment
- WhiteFang
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 12:28pm
  Children have the ability to display amazing courage, if they are encouraged by their parents to stand up for righteous principles. I have seen very young children refuse to comply with false religious teachings and customs that are in conflict with Bible Scripture.
  
  Children do not have to be victims of adults who endeavour to intimidate them into compliance.
  
  Report this comment
- godlovinmom
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 12:31pm
  whitefang..we are talking about children here…when a adult teacher says to do something..I think most kids listen and obey that teacher…no matter what she’s “teaching”
  
  Report this comment
- Gonzo
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 4:00pm
  Agreed. This was as wrong as forcing Islamic studies on unwilling students.
  
  Report this comment
- Pontiac
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 11:15pm
  [Let’s give her the same break we give every liberal that abuses their authority in the classroom.]
  I cannot believe what I’m hearing… Two wrongs do not make a right!
  
  Report this comment
N37BU6
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:42am
The poll question is trying to railroad the answers… what is this? The Obama campaign?

Ask whether it’s acceptable for a teacher to force students to pray to Jesus, or anyone else… then you’ll get honest, relevant answers. Why? Because you asked an honest, relevant question as opposed to this one.

I’m disappointed.

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- Blacktooth
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 1:09pm
  N37BU6,
  
  I agree.
  
  The question should be; should a teacher force a student to pray?
  
  Report this comment
AmericanStrega
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:39am
I read the article about the teacher in Virginia teaching Islamic hand signs, etc and I also read this article. I’m an American and a Christian and believe that in a public school there should be no reference to any religion taught to the students. It should be up to the student’s parents to teach whatever religion the parents believe. As for prayer in public schools; I don’t think it should be allowed. I do believe that students should recite the pledge of allegiance in public schools even though it references God. My reasoning is this: Each student can decide which God (s) they are refering to in the pledge. I don’t believe just because the word “God” is used it can only mean the Christian God. God means many different things to many different people. It’s up to each individual to decide what God means to them. As for each of these teachers, the Virginia teacher was rightly fired. Not because she was teaching religion in her public school class, but because she assualted a student. The teacher in the above article should have been reprimanded as she was. If the teacher in Virginia had not assualted the student then I think the same reprimand should have been the same as in the article above.
(ROMNEY/RYAN 2012)

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thibx
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:38am
the 1st book taught in this country was the bible. i think it is great. teach the bible and pray i bet crime would decrease by 90%. you can’t loose when God (the true God) is on your side.

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- Dishevel
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 11:09am
  You of course realize that once a government gets to force you to do things for a religious purpose that you are screwed. Right?
  I agree that if more children were taught the values of the bible this country would be better off.
  That is what parents and churches are for. Once you put government into the mix the country, the people and the religion all Lose.
  
  Report this comment
- Zer0
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 12:09pm
  @THIBX,
  
  “you can’t loose(sic) when God (the true God) is on your side.” – You see, that’s the problem…what if this teacher forced the students to recite a Mormon prayer, a Jewish prayer, a Hindu prayer, a Buddhist prayer, or an Islamic prayer? I don’t mind OPTIONAL prayer in schools but when prayer is FORCED then it violates the Constitution.
  
  Report this comment
- Thornyrose13
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:49pm
  theocracy didn’t work for many of the early colonists. And permitting prayers in school only seems to appeal when the “official” prayers are those of specific religions. what happens is Wiccans, pagans, or other groups want representation?
  People can and do pray all the time in school. But why the desire to make productions of them? Prayer should be an individual underrating. Students who want to form religious clubs should be allowed to do so. But trusting the government to handle religious indoctrination? Please…
  That said, the reprimand is about what I would expect from the New York school board. What a shame it is we waste time on things like this, instead of making sure the time is spend educating the kids on the topics they are supposed to be learning, math, reading, science…
  
  Report this comment
Not Quite
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:38am
On school property, I don’t have a problem with a teacher praying and I don’t have any problems with students praying. I do have a problem with a teacher requiring a student to pray.

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- john vincent
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:54am
  -Appears to me this ‘teacher’ knows nothing of prayer, and is probably a poor teacher as well.
  She does not represent christianity, and no doubt needs to study the topic on which she is forcing on others.
  
  Report this comment
- Walkabout
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 11:42am
  A moment of prayer is a good thing.
  
  Forcing the kids to pray to a specific diety or according to a specific denomination or religion is not.
  
  An atheist could consider a moment of silence to think of an affirmation of what they will do positivie during the day. An affirmation need not be religious.
  
  There is no problem with a momemnt of silence in schools. Most of the conflict comes from in your face atheists.
  
  Report this comment
- kryptonite
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 11:59am
  @WALKABOUT
  I concur.
  
  Report this comment
DakotaDog
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:37am
I also grew up when it was okay to pray in public school. Since prayer has been taken out of the schools, our educational system has gone down hill. There is no longer any respect for teachers. I don’t think it is just a coincidence. Prayer makes a difference in a child’s life.

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- AmericanStrega
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:41am
  Respect should be taught at home. I think a lot of our problems come from parents being to lazy to teach their children any morals or values.
  
  Report this comment
- DimmuBorgir
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:45am
  Prayer does make a huge difference.
  However, it should be the parents teaching the child how to pray.
  
  Report this comment
- Eastinfection
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 11:02am
  Our teacher made us sing a James Taylor song once. This can’t be any worse than that…
  
  Report this comment
- TeresaJ
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 12:48pm
  @Americastrega
  
  Students spend 7-10 hours or more in school. They spend 2-3 hours max with parents during the week, and that is at night when everyone is tired. When are they supposed to learn respect and prayer from parents?
  
  I understand the disagreements that go on with this subject, but pulling God out of school completely is a defeating solution. Currently, I support non-specific led prayer (Praying to God for wisdom, guidance, and safety, making no reference to specific doctrines), especially before games. I believe any one should be able to pray and discuss God as they see fit, as long as no one is forced, including teachers.
  
  Either this needs to happen, or we need another solution. With school being required, and many parents with no choice but to send their children to public school, I think we have every right as parents to demand the government either provide us with a suitable environment to foster both achedemics AND faith and character, or give us vouchers so we can send our children to a school of our choosing. I would prefer the former, because if we start dividing ourselves up with the latter, I could see more problems in the future.
  
  Report this comment
- God_Is_Not
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 1:52pm
  Teresaj
  
  Why do you want the government to pay for faith based alternatives? This is why private schools exist. You do have the option of choosing the educational institution of your choice. However, if you want to involve faith in the curriculum then you have to fund it privately. It’s not the governments role to spend people’s tax dollars on Christianity, Islam, Hinduism or any other religion. The best part about this country is we DO have the freedom to choose.
  
  Report this comment
- TeresaJ
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 3:27pm
  @ God is not
  
  I answered that question in my first statement if you read it closely, but I will spell it out for you. It’s not the governments role to tell us when and where we can worship either, and by pulling God out of schools, they have created school environments of disrespect, immorality, and humanism not fit to send a dog to. Not once in their lifetime, are students required to think about morality. They have become so ignorant of the Bible or of anything religious in general it’s embarrassing. They actually think they have the right to act however they want, and are ignorant the notion of consequences or punishment (source- half the comments on youth forums and this very site).
  
  We are required to educate our children (a position I do not disagree with). Private school is NOT an option for every parent. Not everyone can afford to send their children to private school, nor do they all have what it takes to homeschool their children. All parents pay taxes for schools whether the school is fit to send children there or not. If we are required, and we pay taxes, the government has the responsibility to provide school environments in which we can properly raise our children.
  
  Report this comment
- Eastinfection
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 5:06pm
  @TERESAJ
  
  Raise your own kids.
  
  Report this comment
- Eastinfection
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 5:14pm
  @TERESAJ…
  
  The government’s job is to teach your kids reading, history, math, science, English, etc.
  
  it’s not their job to raise them according to your standards.
  
  It’s their job to teach them basic academics and (hopefully) not get shot by a homicidal classmate. Thats it. The rest is up to you.
  
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Country_of_Arizona
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:37am
This just goes to show how this country’s PC has run amok. In VA no problem (until parents found out) that a muslim teacher made 10yo pray to allah but in NY a big problem praying praying to Jesus

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Semper4everSemper
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:36am
This is how ALL of American PUBLIC Schools operated until the early ’60′s. Look how bad things have gotten since then. There will NO doubt be prayers in school again at some point. The question is to whom – God or allah? To paraphrase Rush L. ‘don’t doubt it’. The country was founded on Christian principles and faith – not a specific denomination of Christianity. But if ANY of the Founding Fathers had imagined this would be an issue, I’m sure they would have never gone along with Ben Franklin’s idea of public schools.

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Al J Zira
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:35am
Nothing will happen to this “teacher”. The president will make sure of that. Don’t believe me? Check this out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=tCAffMSWSzY#t=28

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Cavallo
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:34am
No, not okay. Although at least she didn’t injure any of the kids making them pray. A teacher of “English as a Second Language” might have some politically correct protections to keep her job. Had this been an American History teacher, or English Literature, she might well have been out on her ear.

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DimmuBorgir
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:34am
Regardless of my own religion.

This is wrong. It is not the place of the teacher to tell any child to practice the prayers or rituals of any religion.

The only time religion is appropriate in the PUBLIC class room is a religious studies course or in the context of a history lesson.

PRIVATE schools, teach whatever you want.

I would have liked to see this teacher fired. As well I would call for the muslim equivalent of this teacher to be fired also.

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- Al J Zira
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 11:04am
  I agree with all but the last statement. You would fire the teacher for a mistake. If my boss fired you for every mistake I’ve made during my life, I’d be one of the permanently unemployed. People make mistakes. The teacher in VA. should be fired for the simple fact she assaulted a student.
  
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- DimmuBorgir
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 11:23am
  Al J
  
  If you were a contractor(which i am)
  you can get fired for no reason at all, just cause.
  
  teachers are in unions, they never get fired. just put on admin leave
  
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- kryptonite
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 11:52am
  Al J ZIRA,
  The teacher in VA. should be fired for the simple fact she assaulted a student.
  ——
  Forcing children to pray is abuse of power, as well as mental abuse of minors. There is a significant difference between the two cases in that it APPEARS the NYC teacher did it only during the Christmas season. By contrast, the VA teacher Islamized routinely. So that might be the reason why the Bronx teacher was not fired.
  
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godlovinmom
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:34am
Though I don’t think this belongs in public schools…with some “brands” of chrisitanity…you never know what you are gonna get today…although our public schools have went downhill since they took prayer and God’s word out…mmmmmm…I say, like me, if you want to teach your child about our Saviour…homeschool…that way you know they are getting the truth…I would not rely on any public institution to teach my kid about God.

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- justangry
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:49am
  It went down hill once the creation of the Dept. of Education.
  
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Coolige
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:34am
As much as I love prayer, I would be very uncomfortable with my child exposed to this in a public environment. If I were dropping my child off at a faith based school that I pre-screened and approved of their doctrine than it would be acceptable. This public servant was out of line. What gives this teacher or any other public servant the right to instruct children to pray?

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kryptonite
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:33am
Forcing anyone to pray is not the Christian way. That’s Muhammad’s way. I don’t know what Jesus this teacher serves, but it is not the Jesus of the Bible. If these kids grow up hating Jesus, it will be this woman’s fault.

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katybarthedoor
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:30am
Seems to me that learning to pray to Jesus would be a form of vaccinating our children against the brainwashing that the left has been performing on them for decades now.

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GlennaBeckski
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:28am
Hmmm this story should make for some interesting comments considering the other story currently on The Blaze about the VA teacher teaching muslim hand signals.

I’m all ears…. (not literally as only BHO could say that)

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Ilikepeople
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:27am
Sounds like the sprouts of state religion. Not a good idea, because then there’s no liberty to interpret the scriptures as one sees fit, and therefore if the leaders are wrong then everyone is wrong.

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- Ilikepeople
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:32am
  If there ain’t no place to go for liberty, then God has to make some room.
  
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- Ilikepeople
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:35am
  The teacher is glorifying herself by making the students honor God, and it’s the same thing as a teacher upset about a daydreaming student.
  
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RJJinGadsden
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:27am
What, she didn’t cut somebody’s hand on a wire spring binder? Apparently, she didn’t go far enough.

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Mr.Fitnah
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:26am
Islam calls for the death of all none muslims, I object to that kind of ideology. There is no comparison to Christianity .

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akpapa
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:25am
If you condone Christian Prayer in Public Schools; then you must allow the Islamic Indoctrination too.

Think people………. Don’t open the door to Sharia Law.

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- Mr.Fitnah
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:51am
  The Constitution is not a suicide pact.
  
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woodyee
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:22am
No, it’s not a bad thing. Now if Christianity preached killing and forcing subjugation of all non-believers, I’d have a different opinion. I attended public school as a child (I’m in my 60′s), and we prayed all the time – celebrated Christmas, too.

Just because a lawyer says something is bad, doesn’t necessarily make it so. Our Country was Founded on Judeo-Christian principles; prayer was ENCOURAGED in State houses; all was pretty much good until someone with an ax to grind made a federal case out of it.

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- mchubinsky
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:31am
  I suppose, then, that you would be fine with Hebrew prayers in public school?
  
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- jefftavolieri
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:31am
  Not sure if you’re stupid or just trolling. Your bible is all about killing heretics, apostates, etc:
  
  If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers; Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him: But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.
  
  Islam is every bit as peaceful and belicose as Christianity.
  
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- tzion
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:34am
  I have no problem with prayer in school, but the teacher isn’t being paid to lead prayers during class. Outside of class is her business but as long as class is in session she should remain focused on her job as an educator. To do anything less, in my opinion, is tantamount to stealing from the school district. Even in the private religious schools I attended, time was set aside outside of regular class for prayer. It wasn’t part of class.
  
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- woodyee
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:41am
  Chubinsky – yes.
  
  Jeff – http://www.vexen.co.uk/religion/islam_unbelievers.html
  
  Also, Jeff, I don’t appreciate being flamed. You want respect, give it. I’ll give you a decent back and forth.
  
  Report this comment
- 65Mustang
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:48am
  JEFFTAVOLIERI: Islam is every bit as peaceful and belicose as Christianity.—-This is a joke, right…you can’t be that damn stupid.
  
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- kryptonite
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 12:12pm
  @JEFFAVOLIERI
  Hey, JEFFY, as far as I know, God did not bring me out of the land of Egypt. All the people that God brought out of the land of Egypt died in the wilderness, except for Joshua and Caleb, and they are dead too.
  
  If you want to inform yourself about what God is telling me, or even modern day Jews who want to listen, go the New Covenant. Where in the New Testament does God tell me to “kill heretics, apostates, etc.”?
  
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- Pontiac
  Posted on October 20, 2012 at 11:23pm
  The New Testament is like reinventing Nazism. Sure you may have changed your ways because your leader became a human-sacrifice-to-himself-to-save-yourselves-from-himself, but he was still a guilty as hell genocidal maniac.
  
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honor007
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:20am
This is wrong. The teachers responsibiltiy stops with reading, writing and math. Period. If parents want their kids to pray they will have them pray. If a student prays of their own accord at school on their own free time, let them pray.

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- DimmuBorgir
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:38am
  /agree
  
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TNT75
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:18am
This country is going to hell. We need all the prayers we can get.

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- SovereignSoul
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:39am
  Then why stop with forcing children to pray. Let’s stop all activities twice a day and force all citizens to pray. In this way we can cure our country of all it’s social ills.
  
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- Eastinfection
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 11:05am
  that, alone won’t do it, SOVEREIGN…
  
  We need to flog women that talk to men, as well.
  
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- Master.Debater
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 11:06am
  @sovereignsoul: What about making everyone pray 5 times a day?
  
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- SovereignSoul
  Posted on October 19, 2012 at 1:19am
  Hey man, whatever it takes, I guess.
  
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