THE DOTHAN EAGLE

THE DAILY NEWSPAPER OF THE WIREGRASS SINCE 1903
TUESDAY,
MAY 13, 2003

Education Department: No Prayer, no money. With funding
at stake, schools scramble to assure prayer is allowed.

By Ben Feller AP Education Writer

WASHINGTON -- Threatened with the loss of federal
money, the vast majority of the nation's schools
have declared that they allow prayer, wherever and
however the Constitution permits.

For the first time, federal law requires school
districts to prove that they have no policy stifling
court-protected prayer by students or teachers. Those
that don't comply risk losing a share of elementary
and secondary school money totaling $23 billion.

Initial responses, due April 15, showed some states
had dozens of schools out of compliance, other states
failed to reply at all.

But leaders in those states say paperwork problems,
not trouble over prayer policies accounted for the
delay. Most of the more than 15,000 school districts
have since certified they follow the law, and federal
officials seem content the states have shown good faith.

"We're not at the point where we're talking about taking
funding away from schools or states," said Education
Department spokeswoman Susan Aspey. " The goal all
along has been to make sure local school districts do
not have any policies in place that sanction religion -
or policies that prohibit voluntary religious expression
by students."

Generally, prayer is permitted provided it happens outside
of class instruction and is not initiated by school officials,
federal guidelines say. As examples, students may pray during
recess and teachers may hold their own Bible study at lunch,
but teachers may not lead their classes in prayer or try to
persuade students or join religious activities.

As of late Friday, 42 states had certified that all of
their schools follow the law.

Five schools--Arizona, California, Ohio, Illinois and
New York-- combined show 150 to 200 school districts out
of compliance. All those states expect the number to be
zero soon.

Indiana, Nevada and New Hampshire haven't reported but
assure federal officials they expect to send clean reports
soon. District of Columbia officials have not responded.

The prospect of lost money was not lost on the schools.

North Carolina got the last of its certifications on Friday.

"When we sent them a letter and say,'We're going to freeze
your money if you don't get it in,' I think expectation
was that they would respond," said William McGrady an official
with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Jesus is calling all of His Flocks In.
It is time to honor All men and women.
Respect all faiths. Only God knows
The future. Only God knows The Truth.
Who are we to Play God and Judge others?
Jesus said, "We are all God's Children."


(John 10: 16)

I have other sheep also, which are not
of this fold; them too I must bring and they
will hear My voice and all the sheep will
become one flock and One Shepherd.

RULES FOR LIVING ON PLANET EARTH

Love is the force that guides the universe.
Your Thoughts set the force in motion.
Treat everyone as you want to be treated.
The thoughts you send out to the world
will be returned, so be very sure you
want them back.
All men and woman are created equal.
Feelings of superiority and inferiority
come from the same source, fear.
Freedom of speech does not give
us freedom of slander.
Honor your father, mother,
teachers and legal authority.
Freedom of Religion means
Freedom for all Religions.
You are accountable for your own
thoughts, actions and responsibilities.
Work on correcting your own flaws.
They are the only ones you can change.

Beverly Parks

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