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School officials
protest Supreme
Court decision
By SHARON KILPATRICK
Rappahannock New* Staff Writer
The decision of the U.S. Supreme Court last week to ban prayers at graduation ceremonies was not popular with the Rappahannock school community.
Superintendent David Gangel said, “Personally, I’m disappointed. I don’t know all the details of how the law applies, but I’m gravely disappointed.”
High school Principal John Toth echoed this sentiment. “From a legal point of view, I’m surprised the issue hasn’t been raised before now, but from a moral point of view, I with it had been left alone,” he said. “An invocation and a benediction seem as natural a part of graduation as handing out diplomas,” he added.
At high school graduation it has been customary to have an honor graduate give an invocation at the beginning of the ceremony and another honor graduate give a benediction at the end. Mr. Toth suggested that in the future there may be students giving welcoming and closing messages that are not prayers.
Both administrators had questions about what effect the decision may have on Baccalaureate services. The Baccalaureate service is held on the Sunday evening before graduation, which is normally on a Saturday morning. Mr. Toth said it is “a religious service for seniors.” ,
Graduates are not required to attend the BaocalauSee
PRAYER, Page A-2
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