SJR 25-VOLUNTARY SCHOOL PRAYER SENATOR JERRY WARD, sponsor, explained SJR 25 requests the Alaska congressional delegation to support the passage of HJR 7 and SJR 1, related to school prayer. Those resolutions read: Nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to prohibit individual or group prayer in public schools or other public institutions. No person shall be required by the United States of any other state to participate in prayer. Neither the United States nor any state shall compose the words of any prayer to be said in public schools. SENATOR WARD pointed out prayer in public schools occurred until 1962, at which time an unelected judge decided it was unconstitutional. He believes that decision was in error. SENATOR WARD said he introduced SJR 25 after watching a news story about the shootings at the Littleton, Colorado high school. A teacher, who told the students to pray in a classroom for the other students during the incident, broke the law. He noted that prayer is the most powerful tool he is aware of. He feels that the debate about allowing prayer in public schools needs to occur on the federal level. He asked that the Alaska Legislature go on record in support of allowing prayer in public schools. Number 097 MR. JEFF WHITE, the principal of a private Christian school in Ketchikan, made the following comments via teleconference. He supports SJR 25 and believes that when prayer was no longer permitted in public schools, violence, teen pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse escalated. The older generation benefitted from a school system that had prayer time. The Bible speaks of a generation that did not know God. We are raising a generation without the knowledge of God. Likewise, he believes reciting the Pledge of Allegiance instills in children a bond with their nation and a sense of patriotism. Teenagers learn to apply what they were taught as children and what we are seeing today is teenagers who have no standards to live by. Number 175 MARSHA GEORGE, affiliated with the Church of God in Ketchikan, stated that prayer, and volunteer and paid chaplains, are available to and the military and jail system, legislatures and Congress, and in some work places. She questioned why chaplains and prayer have been outlawed in public schools. Prayer has been outlawed yet abortion and gambling are legal in many states and many states are seriously considering legalizing euthanasia. She wishes the leadership of this country would do the right thing and legalize prayer in school. Number 234 SENATOR DONLEY stated that SJR 1 specifies that no person be required by the United States or any state to participate in prayer, and it says that neither the United States nor any state should compose the words of any prayer to be said in public schools. He questioned the constitutional interpretation of the words "any state" and whether a school district could required students to participate in prayer and could approve certain prayers. SENATOR WARD replied a school district could not. He noted SJR 1 is intentionally written to prohibit anyone from imposing his/her religious views on another. SENATOR DONLEY questioned how a school will determine what words are used in the prayer. SENATOR WARD answered the prayer would be silent. He explained silent prayer occurred in 1962 when the American Civil Liberties Union fought that activity in court and won. He pointed out the same court prohibited the posting of the Ten Commandments in a school, yet it decided that Larry Flint had the right of free speech. He asserted it is time that legislators have this debate on a national level to see what the country's moral compass is. He repeated nothing in SJR 1 or HJR 7 imposes any words of prayer or any specific religious beliefs. Number 282 SENATOR DONLEY noted he is trying to figure out how the proposed constitutional amendment will relate because while SJR 1 and HJR 7 appear to allow verbal prayers, they specify that neither the federal or state governments can compose the words of the prayer. He questioned who will determine what prayer will be said. CHAIRMAN TAYLOR agreed the issue is somewhat ambiguous but he pointed out that at times, not all legislators are in agreement with the prayer offered on the Senate floor, yet the carrying out of the law will have to be left to the person offering the ministerial service. He noted the chaplains in the Army are not instructed in the type of prayers they should offer so, in that setting, the prayer is often ecumenical. He hoped the people offering the prayer consider the congregation before them. Number 336 SENATOR ELLIS stated the type of lead-prayer, referred to by Chairman Taylor, when sponsored by the public school system, contradicts the sponsor's statement that silent, unlead-prayer would occur. CHAIRMAN TAYLOR said he was referring to the instances in government institutions today in which a person has to verbalize a prayer, and how that person has to make difficult decisions. He doubted that could occur in a school setting. SENATOR WARD pointed out that silent prayer occurred in Alaskan schools for the year preceding the 1962 decision for the reason that classrooms contained a diverse group of people. He noted the same resolution has been introduced every year in Congress since 1962. SENATOR DONLEY said, given our court system, he believes a stringent application of the constitutional amendment would be imposed to ensure that prayers are ecumenical and to protect the religious beliefs of all denominations. SENATOR HALFORD moved SJR 25 from committee with individual recommendations. SENATOR ELLIS objected because he had not had a chance to review the copy of the materials before Congress. The motion to pass SJR 25 from committee carried with Senators Halford, Donley and Taylor voting "yea," and Senator Ellis voting "nay."