Andrea, I believe it was Brown vs the Board of Education(or US). Lawsuit brought all the way to the Supreme Court by atheist Madeline O'Hair, now deceased, in the early 60's. Objected to prayers to God in Baltimore public schools, if memory serves.

Surprised prayer lasted til 80 in public schools James. Even in Georgia.

Prayers tended to be little ditties designed to support good citizen ship, kindness to others, and other socially preferable habits.. At least in the public schools I attended. I don't recall them as being doctrinal. They weren't done in the name of Jesus. Maybe some places in the country but none of the many places I lived.

I don't have a problem with prayer in school but prayer is to be a private matter so I have a little problem with official public prayer. Lack of discipline and high expectations are more of a problem than lack of prayer in our education system. And it would probably help if so many kids weren't doped into submission. It was not pointed out so we couldn't miss it but all of the Colombine type nonsense involved kids who were doped or had been at one time. Perhaps there is an exception but I don't think so.