Bill allows school prayer

Religious-themed jewelry also would be OK

TALLAHASSEE — Students’ right to pray in schools would be guaranteed under a bill barreling through the Florida Legislature.

The bill specifies that students in public schools are permitted to engage in prayer and that school personnel are allowed to participate in studentled prayers.

The bills also guarantee protection for students who wear religious-themed jewelry.

It doesn’t force anyone to participate but allows students and school employees to do so without being penalized.

The Florida Senate voted 23-13 Thursday to approve the bill over the objections of many Democratic senators, who fear the protections could lead to both the proselytizing and ostracizing of students of different religions.

“To essentially allow schoolsanctioned religious activities, basically to allow proselytizing in school, we don’t need it,” said state Sen. Gary Farmer, DFort Lauderdale. “We all have our own relationship with God or Allah or whomever. But to force that on other people, it’s not necessary and it can be harmful and it can be disrespectful.”

It’s Christians who are being discriminated against, said state Sen. Dennis Baxley, ROcala, the bill’s sponsor.

“I’ll tell you who’s ostracized. People of faith,” he said. “Is it such a dangerous thing that we hear something we don’t agree with?”

The Florida School Board

Association has indicated it supports the bill.

Earlier in the day, the House Education Committee also unanimously voted for the bill, sending it to the House floor, though a vote is not yet scheduled. Democrats are sponsoring the House bill.

“This bill would give a student the opportunity to pray if they choose to. [Teachers and administrators] could join in if they want to,” said state Rep. Patricia Hawkins-Williams, D-Lauderdale Lakes, who co-sponsored the bill with state Rep. Kimberly Daniels, D-Jacksonville. “There’s no wrong way to do what’s right. And this is the right thing to do.”