[HairOfTheDog]

Let's be careful here, and make sure that the right thing is being argued. Sounds to me from the story that the problem is that they're blocking traffic in a high-traffic area. If that's all this is, they should be more reasonable.

But going off half-cocked is so much more fun!

An assistant superintendent at the school said the students were given suspensions for refusing to obey a faculty directive not to block traffic in the public area.

"No one gets suspended because they pray. This is a story of some kids who chose to defy a legitimate request by administrators to not disrupt other students," Bill Bentley said. Administrators had offered a classroom for the students' use, to ensure other students were not offended and the group did not obstruct traffic.

[Ramius]

...to ensure other students were not offended and the group did not obstruct traffic.

It's the latter part that I'd have no problem with. But the former is a problem. If they're merely ~visible~ to other students, well, too bad. There shouldn't be a problem of them merely being in a public place, unless their little drum circle is in the middle of traffic.

It sounds like this group is putting themselves right in the middle of things, though. They went fishing for a confrontation and got one. My sympathy factor is low, so far.

[B Knotts]

to ensure other students were not offended

As I suspected.

[Quix]

to ensure
other students
were not
offended

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, the right to avoid being offended . . . RAHHHHHHHGHT.

GRRRRRRR. Methinks that's the issue here.

[GovernmentShrinker]

to ensure other students were not offended and the group did not obstruct traffic

If a school official actually said that, the school's case is DOA. No doubt there are plenty of things going in public areas of the school that the prayer group kids find offensive.