Thoughts on School Prayer

     How should we address the controversy over prayer in schools?

     I believe that the solution is to neither force prayer, nor ban prayer altogether.

     Continue prohibiting teacher-led prayer in public schools, but end public funding of all private and religious schools (in order to keep them actually private).

     If public school students initiate prayer themselves, however – say, before a meal in the cafeteria, or in any other manner that doesn't interrupt other students' learning - then don't be a monster and ban them from praying when they want to. When student prayer would interrupt other students' learning, then allow public school students to pray in designated rooms, without being led or forced by teachers.

     Don't punish kids for not participating in a moment of silence. Especially not if they consider a moment of silence to be a form of prayer. Leave students free to step outside during the moment of silence, or just don't have the moment of silence. The same should go for saluting the flag, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, or standing at attention for “The Star-Spangled Banner”, et cetera.

     I do not support requiring all churches to pay taxes on all of their properties. In keeping with the provisions of Land Value Taxation, private religious schools should pay taxes only on their land holdings, and only if they own the land in full allodial title.

     As long as an ostensibly “private” religious school is not subsidized by taxpayers in any way, and as long as a private or religious school does not own the land underneath the building, the owners of private religious schools should pay no taxes on the school building itself, and keep everything they produce on their own property.

Originally Written on January 22nd, 2019

Edited and Expanded on January 23rd, 2019

Originally Published on January 23rd, 2019