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"Perhaps Jefferson should hop out of his grave and explain how not allowing students to pray before a sports event."

I watch students pray before sporting events all the time, there's no one compelling them to do so as a group, but they pray. Some alone, some in small groups.

I asked my neighbor's daughters (very devout family) about prayer in school, and they pray...they are not led to prayer by anyone...they pray, and no one tells them they can't.

There's a difference between "not allowing" students to pray, and not allowing the school to set aside time to lead everyone in prayer.

Honestly, would you feel comfortable having school bureocrats composing a non-denominational, all-inclusive prayer to lead students on a daily basis?

I wouldn't, in fact, I would demand that my children be allowed to pray privately.

I grew up in a small community, not yet touched by judicial activism, with daily prayers in Public School and reciting the Pledge of Allegence with my hand over my heart. It gave me a sense of community and belonging, and a sense that the student standing next to me was my national family who I may not like all that much, but who in a throw down I would stand up for against all foreign enemies.

I think it was a good thing, I think it built good character, patriotism and a sense of the safety that oneness with others gives. Why do you think movies such as "Lord of the Rings" are such smash hits? It gives young people what they crave and lack, a sense of identity and being a part of something good and larger than themselves because they are joined with other's in a cause and common pledge.

Now to attain that sense of oneness they look for groups just to belong to, most entertain destructive ends yet guise themselves as wanting to attain unselfish ends. Socialists are expert in providing youth with this type of organization, Conservatives are way behind in regards to it and organizations anti-socialist such as the Boy Scouts are under attack and no one really connects the dots.