Private Vs. Public-What's the Deal?

For the second year in a row now, my older daughter has participated in the school district's annual musical that is put on for 6th-9th grade students (middle school and jr. high). It's a fabulous program, and the director, a district employee, always does a phenominal job with the kids. Last year they put on "Suessical the Musical, and this year they are doing "Annie." The kids work hard, even the ones in the smaller roles, and it's fun for them.

Yesterday was Emily's first performance. There are two casts, and three performances a weekend for two weekends. Each cast does a Saturday matinee one weekend, and a Friday night and Saturday night performance the other weekend. Yesterday was a matinee performance for Emily. My parents came, and my mother-in-law came, and Stella brought a friend. The kids did a great job.

After the play, the grandparents all went their respective ways. We went out to dinner, and then to Dairy Queen, just to celebrate. It was during this time that Emily tells me that before each performance they do a "prayer circle."

What? Is this a private, religious school? No. It's a public school. So why do they insist on this? I could understand just group well-wishing, break-a-leg cast bonding thing, but they say Amen at the end. That is not necessary. Again, I hate this assumption that everyone thinks and believes the same way. I hate religion crammed down your throat.

If I wanted my kid to pray at a school function, I would have sent her to a private school.