So here’s my run in with prayer in school.
My 4th grade teacher was a piece of work in general, but at one point she decided she was going to lead us in saying thanks out loud, before lunch. Memory loss means I don’t remember how this came up in front of my folks.
Soooo, I’m not sure what my folks expected, but they taught me the hamotzi, basic “thanks for bread,” to say instead. I did and immediately got sent to the principal’s office for swearing at the other kids, and my parents were called.
So here’s my run in with prayer in school.
They talked and compromised on, I wasn’t in trouble, and could continue praying before lunch in Hebrew. Which NOW I knew was embarrassing so I chose to do the other option of uncomfortable silence before lunch. I honestly don’t know why she started, if she stopped, what any of the adults thought, or whether there was some sort of fucky social game going on. The whole “this is gonna be used as an excuse to mandate it” thing is why I thought of the story.