Philadelphia councilwoman Jannie Blackwell has proposed hearings on the possibility of implementing prayer in school.
Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell said her intention to hold hearings this spring on school prayer should be considered an innocuous boostering of the benefits of a spiritual life and not an attempt to breach the wall between church and state.
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The resolution passed Thursday notes that "prayer can promote more virtuous living and may have a positive impact on student behavior."Encouraging students to pray, Blackwell said, could also encourage them to think about the social-justice aspects of religion.
I'm sure Councilwoman Blackwell is very sincere. But despite her intentions, it's not the job of public schools to promote the "spiritual life" of students. That simply can't be done – especially not through the advocacy of prayer – without breaching that wall.
