Thank you for sharing your view. I think that your have a very unique perspective. May I ask, "Do you honestly think that taking prayer out of school is the cause of wayward youth lacking structure and discipline? Is school the place to teach religious values?
I fail to understand why many people believe that praying for less than 5 minutes a day during school time is in any way the answer to these school shootings, teenage pregnancy/drug use/gang related activities, etc. What about parental responsibilities and bringing up the child in the way that he or she should go? What about family prayers both before and after school? Will the family's morning prayer be enough to sustain the child until after school?
When I was in school many years ago (Class of 77), we had prayer in school. I did not see anything wrong with school prayers, but I learned family values and how to behave at home. The school only reinforced those values. However, we now live in a time whereas the school can no longer institute corporal discipline to students. Furthermore, many family values today are not consist with the mainstream. In addition, many families believe in different dieties. Should these students be forced to acknowledge something that they do not believe in? Am I to believe that praying for and with the many undiscipline, self destructive students who have no respect for authority is the answer?
Whether or not there is power in prayer can be debated by people of faith as well as those without faith? However, I do not believe that prayer in school is in any way a substitute for parental responsibility.
I would venture to say that the reason that India has a high achievement rate has much to do with parents instilling certain values in the children at home.
Thank you for allowing me the chance to respond to your comments. I think that you add yet another valuable perspective to this discussion.