Another Letter to The President

Dear President & Mrs. Obama,

I recently wrote you a letter asking for you help in my efforts to put prayer back into schools.  Since then I have done a little research in this matter that, hopefully, will help my appeal.

It is my understanding that praying in school does not go against our rights as citizens under the Constitution of the United States.  As a matter of fact the First Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of a religion, or prohibiting the practice thereof…”  Yet in 1962, the year prayer was removed from school, the government seems to have done just this.

I have also learned that the “Separation of Church and State” is also not in the U. S. Constitution, and since we have done this the pregnancy rate for teenaged girls has gone from 5,000 to 27,000 per year, with numbers possibly steadily increasing.  As important as education is to you and your wife, you should also know that SAT scores have dropped drastically, and the drop-out rate is spiraling out of control; not to mention the increase in violence and drug use.

There are approximately 80% of Americans who claim to be religious and pray, yet we have taken the flawed morality of the minor few and incorporated them into our system.  I am not afraid to call out the enemy, who is trying to destroy our nation where its leaders are being trained to lead.

Though the Constitution does not uphold the ban on prayer in our schools, I do understand that the law does prohibit our educational systems to mandate standard prayer.  This is why I feel there should be a freedom of choice, even inside the walls of the school.  If prayer is allowed, it should be an individual’s choice to participate.

As a substitute teacher,  there have been many times that I wanted to take a child who I knew was a Christian, just as I am, and pray with them.  They were suffering, or in trouble, but my hands were tied because it was not allowed.  Prayer changes things Mr. President, I know that you know that.  My prayer, joined with the prayer of many others, is why we have the privilege of your leadership in this great country today. 

The backbone of our society, in its inception, was built on the Bible and its teachings, and the Bible says, “Do not be anxious about any thing, but in every thing BY PRAYER AND PETITION, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.” (Phillipians 4:6).

I appeal to you Mr. President, and I appeal to Congress, please, can we put prayer back into the school system where it belongs?

Sincerely,

Tonya D. Bernard