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Dear John,
as you know, we've been working real hard in our town to get prayer back into our schools. Finally, the school board approved a plan of teacher-led prayer with children participating at their own option.
Children not wishing to participate were to be allowed to stand out in the hallway during prayer time.
We hoped someone would sue us so we could go all the way to the Supreme Court and get that old devil-inspired ruling reversed.
Naturally, we were all excited by the school board's action. As you know, our own little Billy (not so little anymore, though) is now in the second grade. Of course, Margaret and I explained to him that no matter what the other kids did, he was going to stay in the classroom and participate.
After the first day of school, I asked him "how did the prayer time go?"
"Fine."
"Did many kids go out in to the hallway?"
"Two".
"Excellent. How did you like your teachers prayer?"
"It was different, dad, real different from the way you pray."
"Oh, like how?"
"She said, 'Hail Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners."
The next day I talked to the principle. I politely explained that I wasn't prejudiced against Catholics but would appreciate Billy being transfered to a non-Catholic teacher. The principle said it would be done right away.
At supper that evening I asked Billy to say the blessing. He slipped out of his chair, sat cross-legged on the floor, closed his eyes, raised his hands and began to hum.
You'd better believe that I was at the principle's office at eight o'clock the next morning.
"Look," I said, "I don't really know much about the Transcendental Meditationists but I would feel a lot more comfortable if you could move Billy to a room where the teacher practices an older, more established religion.
That afternoon, I met Billy as soon he walked in the door after school.
"I don't think you're going to like Mrs, Nakasone's prayer either, dad."
"Out with it."
"She kept calling God 'Oh, Great Buddah..."
The following morning, I was waiting for the principle in the parking lot.
"Look, I don't want my son praying to the Eternal Spirit of whatever or to Buddah. I want him to have a teacher the prays in Jesus's name."
"How about Bertha Smith?"
"Excellent."
I could hardly wait to hear about Mrs. Smith's prayer. I was standing on the front steps of the school when the final bell went.
"Well?" I asked Billy as we walked towards the car.
"Mrs. Smith asked God to bless us and ended her prayer in Jesus's name, Amen ~ just like you."
I breathed a sigh of relief. "Now we're getting some place."
"She even taught us a verse of scripture about prayer," said Billy.
I beamed. "Wonderful. What was the verse?"
"Let's see..." he mused for a moment.
"And behold, they began to pray, and they did pray unto Jesus, calling him their Lord and God."
We had reached the car. "Fantastic." I said, reaching for the door handle. Then I paused. I couldn't place the scripture.
"Billy, did Mrs. Smith say what book that verse was from?"
"Third Nephi, Chapter 19 verse 18."
"Third what?"
"Nephi," he said. "It's in the book of Mormon."
The school board doesn't meet for a month. I've given Billy very definate instructions that at prayer time he's to go out into the hallway. I plan to be at that board meeting. If they don't do some thing about the situation, I'll sue. I'll take it all the way to the Supreme Court if I have to.
I don't need the schools or anybody else teaching my son about religion. We can take care of that at home or at our church, thank you very much.
Give my love to Sandi and the boys,
Your buddy,
Juan
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