What people are saying:

• Facebook User:
• Facebook User: I think A LOT of people need to sit back and think on how freedom of religion in places like schools also means freedom FROM religion.
  • Facebook User: Facebook User you don’t have to participate, so what are you bitching about?
• Facebook User: Imagine a bunch of adults having nothing better to do than cry about some kids praying.. I’m not even religious but you guys are the miscreants of the earth
  • Secular Education Association: Facebook User We’re not upset about kids praying. We’re upset that grown adults can’t tell the difference between personal prayer and organized religious display in public school settings. That confusion is exactly why we exist.
  • Facebook User: Also, my kid plays sports and is an atheist. This would be super awkward for him and potentially lead to favoritism on the team. That’s why we care.
  • Facebook User: Facebook User this is about children and protecting them.
  • Facebook User: Facebook User imagine being a social media douche who follows a page he disagrees with to cry about “crying about kids praying”. Loser.
• Facebook User: Performative.
• Facebook User: Our football players always lead prayer and it just so happens they all want to be involved. Lots teams do this. We play teams who players ask to pray after games together as well. How about let the kids be morally sound in faith and morals rather then running around acting like delinquents! Jeez, what a hard decision that is! Absolutely ridiculous of you people!
  • Secular Education Association: Facebook User Nothing says “freedom of religion” like shaming kids who don’t pray. 🤔
    It’s wild how fast “faith and morals” turn into “conform or be called a delinquent.”
  • Facebook User: And in your typical spin fashion you have no point because nothing was said about kids who don’t pray. Your organization is nothing but a liberal propaganda lie spreading disease!
  • Secular Education Association: Facebook User You actually did say that — just not outright.
    You wrote: “How about let the kids be morally sound in faith and morals rather than running around acting like delinquents.”

    That line equates being moral with having faith — and positions kids who don’t pray (or don’t share your faith) as the opposite: delinquents. You might not have meant it that way, but that’s exactly the message it sends.

    And that’s the problem — when public or team prayer is treated as the moral baseline, it automatically casts non-participants as “less than.” That’s why this isn’t about being “anti-faith.” It’s about protecting every kid’s right to belong without having to perform belief.

  • Facebook User: Facebook User and how do you know they all want to be involved? As a teen or young adult its easier to take a knee and be part of that versus being the one or 2 that are standing off to the side or heading to the locker room by themselves. Especially when some people will see those athletes and automatically assume they must be delinquents and lack morals.
  • Facebook User: Facebook User And how exactly do you know they all want to be involved? You don’t. Peer pressure sucks, stop it.
  • Facebook User: Facebook User and what exactly does prayer do? Furthermore, Is it ineffective unless it’s publicly visible? Do the silent prayers where no one knows they’re praying not get delivered? It’s all for show. The religious parents hearts just melt.
  • Facebook User: No, that’s your typical liberal selves trying to make something out of nothing. And nothing was said about conforming, again – spin doctor! What liberal PR firm do you use for your talking points? Probably funded by Soros and the teachers unions. No one forced that team to pray. The athletes did it on their own free will and that bothers you so badly! And your comment about protecting every kid’s right to belong without having to perform a belief is hilarious. Your organization likely supports boys in girls sports and in their bathrooms! So how about protecting those kids beliefs without being forced to conform??? Faith and family is stronger than ever in this country. This country was founded on principles of faith! It’s about time we get back to it! Best of luck in your propaganda organization! I am clearly not a supporter.
• Facebook User: Why do school districts think this is ok?
• Facebook User: Keep your religion out of public schools and I’ll keep mine out too.
  • Facebook User: Facebook User Your from NY where you think letting murders out on the street with no bail is acceptable. I think we will stick to our Ohio values! Stay in NY!
• Facebook User: If the prayer is student-led, doesn’t it constitute student prayer even if adults/coaches are present? Not disagreeing about separation of church and state but we had a student on my sons team that chose to lead prayer after games and it was totally optional and only those who wanted to participate did and the rest went to the locker room.
  • Facebook User: Facebook User I think even posing the prayer as an option is inappropriate because the other students shouldn’t have to go to the locker room. The players praying should have to go somewhere else, not the other way around
  • Facebook User: Facebook User “Student-led” prayer is also unconstitutional and it doesn’t really matter if an adult is present.
  • Facebook User: Facebook User you say it is totally optional but as someone who has heard this for most of my 73 years I can tell you it is not so easy as you make it sound. Have them gather together and do a team cheer. Someone want to pray…say a private silent prayer. My thought is if you have to make praying a spectacle sport it is not about religion anymore.
  • Facebook User: Facebook User think about all the ways that could go wrong because if you open it up for one group you have opened it for any. Team sports should be about team activities, not separatism.
  • Facebook User: Facebook User I never said they had to go to the locker room. Many went to the locker room to change and head home, some hung out on the field talking with friends and family. The prayer happened in one of the end zones and no one was made to feel wrong for not participating. My son didn’t participate and was completely fine with that. Freedom of religion goes both ways. Freedom to not practice a religion. Freedom to practice your religion. In situations such as these, let everyone do what they feel they need to without censure or judgement.
  • Facebook User: Facebook User yeah I admit this scenario is debatable since the event was over at that point.
• Facebook User: Looks to me like everyone chose to pray. Good for them.
  • Facebook User: Facebook User disappointing in my head.
  • Facebook User: Facebook User Did you even read the post? How many of those kids felt obligated to do it because of the coaches leading it? Do you understand how badly HS athletes want to please their coach?
  • Facebook User: Facebook User I read the entire post. I know exactly how athletes want to please their coach. Again, no one appears forced. And it’s not school sanctioned prayer.
  • Facebook User: Facebook User what does appear forced even mean? Were you expecting coaches or players to be holding other players down to pray? This is a school sanctioned event.
• Facebook User: It’s VOLUNTARY… they have the FREEDOM to participate or not…. you want freedom right? This is it.
• Facebook User: Freedom and it looks like they chose to express it.
• Facebook User: The first amendment prohibition on religion applies to Congress, the US government.
• Facebook User: Brother.
• Facebook User: I’m atheist and wd often just stand aside during these types of indoctrination . I will never understand a belief in a pie in the sky being . Grandma was literally a holey roller everything was religious based yet she was a fkn hypocrite. I see zero chg in anyone that thinks there’s a hereafter . If so all the priests that sexually abused all the kids and the right wingers affixing their right or wrong beliefs on us non believers are in serious trouble with the devil !!! Cuz big red don’t put up with your shit !