St. Petersburg, Florida - After emotional debate, the Florida Senate passes legislation to allow students to lead prayer in school and at school events.
The bill now moves to the House. While opponents say it's not the government's role to allow open prayer in school, supporters say political correctness has caused students to lose their freedom to have religious expression.
"Freedom of religion, should be able to do it wherever and whenever they need to," says Mark Mims, a St. Petersburg parent.
Susan Ridgeway says as a parent, she supports prayer in school... just not during class time. "They are so tight on time now. Any other time I don't see an issue with it at all. I don't see anything wrong with it, if everyone wants to join in fine. If they don't, it's their right."
While some students are for prayer, the when and where is questionable. We spoke with several St. Petersburg High School students.
"I keep to myself, but I wouldn't spring that on the whole class because the whole class may not be Christian or Muslim or one of those religions," says Cori Mims, 18, a senior.
"I believe prayer should be allowed in school. I believe in prayer but I don't believe in disrupting the classroom. I think there's a time and place for everything," says student Avery Moore.
"I think that's a silly thing to make a bill about. We need to keep religion and school separate, that's the point of public schools," says Sam Dempster, 18, a senior.
The bill is clear the prayer must be student led. It bans an adult from giving the inspirational message. The bill also says the school district cannot dictate what a student says before they say it; they can't review the content of that message before it's delivered.
"I think there should be restrictions, some people might think what they are saying is offensive and this is a public school. It should be fair for all students," says Caroline Kim, 15, a sophomore.
Some students say legislators have bigger issues to worry about.
Sam Beasey, 16, a sophomore says, "Not really a big issue right now. Classes work fine the way they are now. It's not something you hear everyone talking about."
Dempster adds, "I'm sure there are more important things they could be devoting their time to."
Republican Senator Mike Bennett from Bradenton says the bill is all about freedom. "It's giving these students an opportunity to exercise the same free rights that we all want to exercise when we go home. I do not believe that the bill that we have before us today denies anybody of anything."
Senator Arthenia Joyner, a Democrat from Tampa, disagrees. "I strongly believe this bill does cross the constitutional boundary between permissive prayer, private voluntary student prayer and unconstitutional state-sponsored prayer in public schools and for the reasons enumerated, I will not support the bill."
The School Prayer Bill still needs approval from the Florida House.
Isabel Mascarenas