Students will be able to:

1. Role-play their assigned roles in the school board simulation 2. Identify the conflicting interests and positions represented by the different participants at the meeting.

3. Discuss and analyze the arguments and legal issues that were represented in the board meeting

Handouts 3A, "Clergy-Led Prayer at Public School Graduations: Background;" 3B, "Graduation Prayers;"

and 3C, "School Board Meeting Participants."

2 class periods

Distribute Handout 3A, "Clergy-Led Prayer at Public School Graduations: Background." Discuss the first section of 3A, including the purpose of school boards and the issue, pointing out that the class will do a simulation of a special board meeting to discuss this issue. Distribute Handout 3B, "School Board Meeting Participants." Assign the 25 characters to each of your students. Briefly discuss sections 2 and 3 of Handout 3A so that students understand their characters’ positions on the issue. Be sure that every student understands the general isuse and the character’s position that he or she will role-play.

The board chair calls the meeting to order and announces its purpose. At the conclusion of the meeting have students explain their answers to the following questions:

• Do you think a school board hearing is a fair way to determine policy? Why? Why not?
• Do you think the interests of all affected parties were fairly represented at the hearing? Why? Why not? Were any groups missing?
• Do you agree with the views of the person you represented? Why? Why not?
• Which character made the most persuasive argument? Why?
• How would you summarize the arguments made by each of the various characters? Explain.
• Do you think the interests of the parents were fairly represented at the hearing? Why? Why not?
• Which constitutional rights may have been violated if certain policies were enacted? Explain.
• What do you think was the best way the school board could resolve this issue? Explain.
• What future problems could arise
• Should the decision be left to the school to decide? Why? Why not?

Performance Assessment:

Have students write a letter to a friend summarizing what occurred at the school board meeting. In the letter, have students express their views about including a prayer at their own graduation.

Based on multiple intelligence theory.

Linguistic: Have students hold a press conference about the events of the school board meeting. Students, portraying members of the press, should ask questions of the members of the school board about prayer at graduation.

Kinesthetic: Have students engage in a fishbowl activity. Divide the class into two groups, each group forming a circle. One circle should be inside the other. Students who are part of the inner circle will discuss the issue of prayer at graduation. Students in the outer circle will assess the performance of students in the inner circle. If a student in the inner circle feels that he/she has said all that he/she wants to say and would like to leave the circle, that student may be replaced by a student from the outer circle. Students in the outer circle should be given a checklist as follows: Did the inner circle do the assigned task? Was any student in the circle a leader? Did students in the circle have different opinions?

Spatial: Students should prepare a comic strip using stick figures to describe what happened at the school board meeting.

Intrapersonal: Ask students how they would feel if they attended a graduation and a prayer from a religion other than their own was recited?

Interpersonal: Divide students into groups. Have each student in the group express a view on prayer at graduation. If a student does not wish to say anything, the student may say pass. One student should serve as a recorder and place all the statements about graduation prayer on a large sheet of paper. Students should then select the best statement of the group.

Citizens elect the school board. One member of the board is the "chairperson." The chairperson leads the meetings. The board members have different values. They make decisions for the school district. They decided that clergy should offer prayers at graduations.

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ACLU stands for the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU helps those with problems concerning basic freedoms. The ACLU opposes prayer at public school graduations. The believe it violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. They favor separation of church and state. The Weismans are Jewish. Yet, they think religion does not belong in the public schools. Some opposed do not believe in God. Others believe prayer puts pressure on the students. Students against prayer might look as though they approve it.

The Christian Legal Society favors religion in public schools. They favor of having clergy speak at graduations. Each year a clergy person from a different religion participates. This shows the district does not favor one religion. Those opposed can leave when the prayer starts. They could simply stay home. Some parents, teachers, religious leaders and students want prayers at graduation. They believe that it is a tradition. Prayers add an importance to the ceremony. Also, most legislatures open with a prayer read by a clergy person. Besides, the prayers will take less than a minute.

God of the Free, Hope of the Brave:

For the legacy of America where diversity is celebrated and the rights of minorities are protected, we thank You. May these young men and women grow up to enrich it.

For the liberty of America, we thank You. May these new graduates grow up to guard it.

For the political process of America in which all citizens may participate, for its court system where all may seek justice, we thank You. May those we honor this morning always turn to it in trust.

For the destiny of America, we thank You. May the graduates of Nathan Bishop Middle School so live that they might help to share it.

May our aspirations for our country and for these young people, who are our hope for the future, be richly fulfilled.

Amen

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O God, we are grateful to You for having endowed us with the capacity for learning which we have celebrated on this joyous commencement.

Happy families give thanks for seeing their children achieve an important milestone. Send Your blessings upon the teachers and administrators who helped prepare them.

The graduates now need strength and guidance for the future; help them to understand that we are not complete with academic knowledge alone. We must each strive to fulfill what You require of us all: to do justly, to love mercy, to walk humbly.

We give thanks to You, Lord, for keeping us alive, sustaining us, allowing us to reach this special, happy occasion.

Amen

Directions: Below is a list of the people at the school board meeting. Your teacher will assign every student a role. Think about what that character would say about the issue. Read sections 2 and 3 of Handout 3A. That will also give you some ideas on your character’s arguments

The chair will begin. Then the chair will call on participants to speak. Everyone must speak. You may speak more than once. However, no one should talk too much. You must say what your character would say. That does not mean that you agree with it. You must stay in your character throughout the meeting. After the meeting, you can discuss your own views on the issue.

Chair of the school board, Ivan/Ivana Incumbent: You are a fair chairperson. You want to get reelected. You do not want to upset anyone. You will call the special meeting to order. Explain that this meeting is to give everyone a chance to discuss next month’s graduation. Say that Rabbi Leslie Gutterman has been invited to say graduation prayers, that each year a different religion is selected, and you will consider everyone’s comments.

Conservative school board member, Connie/Conrad Conservative: You want prayer at graduation.

Liberal school board member, Larry/Laura Liberal: You want to give students more freedom in school. You are opposed to graduation prayers.

Board member Matthew/Marcia Minister: You are a minister who has opened past board meetings with a prayer.

Board member Strom/Stella Strict: You are a strong supporter of the separation of Church and State. You do not think schools should have anything to do with religion or religious subjects.

Americans for Religious Liberty representative, Ann/Andy Archy: You believe any graduation prayer is illegal.

Paul/Paula Pious: You are the spokesperson for the Christian Legal Society. You believe that a prayer should be delivered at graduation.

Dan Weisman: A parent of one of the graduating students. You and your family are Jewish. You believe that it is wrong to have a prayer at public school events.

Rabbi Leslie Gutterman: You are the clergy chosen by the principal to read a prayer at graduation.

Principal Robert E. Lee: You invited the rabbi to give a prayer. In past years, you have invited other religious leaders.

History teacher, Dora/Dennis Democrat: You think students should vote on what prayer to have at graduation.

Math teacher, Troy/Trudy Tradition: You want to keep things just as they’ve been done in the past.

Biology teacher, Mr./Miss Manners: You think they should skip the graduation prayer this year. Some students would feel left out or upset.

Civics teacher, Mr./Ms. Leftwing: You teach your students about their rights. You think students should follow their beliefs.

Reverend Lovejoy: You believe there should be a prayer at graduation. The prayer should be inclusive (open to all faiths).

Lenny/Lucy Lawyer: You are the lawyer for the school. You do not want the school to be sued over this issue. It will cost money and time.

Parent 1, Fred/Fawn Fundamentalist: You are a devout Christian. You strongly support a prayer at graduation.

Parent 2, Freida/Frank Free Love: You grew up in the 1960s and always rebel against authority. You are against prayer in school.

Parent 3, Brian/Barbara Booster: You want the prayer at graduation. You think it adds dignity to the ceremony.

Parent 4, Preston/Prissy Political: You do not want a rabbi giving a prayer.

Student 1, Deborah Weisman: You are the daughter of Daniel Weisman. You are Jewish but do not want to listen to a prayer at graduation.

Student 2, Johnny/Jenna Jock: You are the star athlete at the school. Before and after every game you lead the team in prayer.

Student 3, Larry/Laura Leftout: You are an atheist (do not believe in God). You feel different and uncomfortable when your classmates say a prayer.

Student 4, Reggie/Rhonda Religious: You organize a voluntary student prayer meeting before school each day. You are also the president of the after school Bible study club.

Student 5, Pete/Petunia Party: You do not want any prayer at graduation. You think it will be too serious.

Student 6, Ken/Carla Cause: You will not attend graduation if they say a prayer. You are a friend of Larry/Laura Leftout.

Student 7, Gary/Greta Goalong: You are very shy. You will go along with whatever is decided.