Jerry McDaniel’s assertion in the Sept. 22 edition of The Natchez Democrat (Prayer belongs in American schools) that children cannot openly pray in the public schools is false.

It is a ploy that has been used by some to justify the infusion of religion under the official auspices of the school system. No child, in or out of school, is denied the right to hold and to espouse religious convictions.

As defined by the U.S. Department of Education guidelines, prayer is legal in all public schools. Of course there are limitations on the circumstances under which it can be done because public schools, like all other government institutions, are funded by taxpayers of different religions or of no religious persuasion. Freedom from religion is as important as freedom of religion.

Schoolchildren, like everyone else, have that right.

It is long past time to stop the endless and unproductive haggling over prayer in the schools.

George M. Marshall

Natchez resident