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In Matthew 6:6 you are understanding the passage out of context. For a better understanding read ALL of Matthew! At least add verse 5 to verse 6 so that it reads more like this:

"Again, when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; they love to say their prayers standing up in synagogue and at the street corners, for everyone to see them. I tell you this: they have their reward already. But when you pray, go into a room by yourself, shut the door, and pray to your Father who is there in the secret place; and your Father who sees what is secret will reward you."

If the person saying the prayer in public is doing so out of self-glorification - just wanting to have the attention (being hypocritical) - then clearly it is a bad thing. If the prayer is being said in public for the glory and purpose of God ... well that, my friend, is a horse of a different color :-)

That's right. Prayer should be done in private- except that Paul says in another place to "pray on every occasion". We are also to pray for one another, as in laying our hands on one another and praying. Don't take just one excellent point that Jesus made and try to build it into some absolutist doctrine that there should not every be such a thing as public prayer. Instead, pray to God in private yourself, read the whole of the scripture, and learn what the will of God is.

Besides, I think quoting scripture from teacher to pupil should be allowed too IF THE PARENTS WANT IT. I think scripture reading issue should be as big or bigger than the prayer issue. There is a lot of wisdom on how to act and teach children in proverbs alone.