[marshmallow]

Religious persecution, pure and simple.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Surely the driver will get muzzled in this one (sadly). What the kids should do is start a group recitation themselves.

[Mr. Lucky]

If each child who participates in the prayer has the express consent and support of his or her parents, why is any of this the Reverend Lynn's business?

[ConsistentLibertarian]

"A Maryland school bus driver fears that she could lose her job because of onboard prayers by her young passengers." That first sentence gave me the impression that the kids were praying on their own and some despotic administrator wanted to fire the bus driver. When I think of all the things I've seen and heard on school buses, I couldn't figure out what the big deal was if kids were praying. But my guess is that what got her into trouble was _leading_ the prayer.

[4CJ]

If the bus driver tells the students that the must become Baptists, Jewish, Methodists, Episcopalian, Catholic, etc. that would violate the 1st Amendment. But saying non-sectarian prayers, even to the Christian God of our founding fathers, does nothing to violate it.

[detsaoT]

But Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State

Yep. And nobody hates Christianity more than the "Reverend" Lynn, too. This guy is a real jerkoff (pardon my french - hope the moderators don't get too upset! :) who will stop at nothing until America becomes a totally secular entity, devoid of ANY public expression of the Christian faith.

Multiculturalism is not about being "inclusive" of all religions.
It is about being "exclusive" of Christianity.

:) ttt

[AlaskaErik]

Had the driver stopped her bus while it was pointing towards Mecca and had she thrown down some prayer rugs, she would have been commended for her cultural sensitivity.

[SGCOS]

But pupils from Shiloh Middle School decided they wanted to keep praying themselves -- and students at North Carroll High School decided to join in, too.

Now when the bus stops in front of the school, the doors are opened so that anyone who wants to can leave, while the rest wait a moment and recite the Lord's prayer, the "Sun" said.

How can the driver be responsible for this?

[MissMillie]

As long as the students are initiating this, there is nothing wrong w/ it.

[MissMillie]

The 37-year-old led those onboard in reciting the Lord's prayer on Sept. 12, the day after the terrorist attacks. She sent a note home to parents asking permission to continue the brief prayer, and all but one approved.

THERE'S the problem. As long as the school district is paying her check, she has no business leading the students in prayer on the bus route.