This would only be notable if it occurred during school hours, where and when the participants were required to be present and subject.
These prayers were not even a mandatory component of recreational activity. Religious freedom is not predicated upon when you "could" do something. Some religions contain a component of "bearing witness", which requires the acknowledgement to be public (i.e. not alone in your car).
An MLK poster is not a religious artifact, as far as I am aware, and is not significant to discussions of religious freedom.
These acts do not create an "in" or "out" group as you claim. Rather, they delineate the Christians from the non-Christians. The kids who choose to pray can easily be designated the "nerds" by the rest of the team.
Your use of the word "groom" appears partisan and dishonest, given the contemporary association of the term.
Honest question; are you claiming children's religions can be dictated, or even meaningfully influenced, solely by what their football coach chooses to do after the game is over and the team has been dismissed? If so, we will not be able to agree.
Your answer seems sincere. If I can’t convince you of my position, maybe I can at least convince you that I hold my position sincerely.
I hear you about the significance of “school hours” but, this is the public school’s football team. By nature, the football happens (on public property) during hours school isn’t in session . Aren’t these all really school hours? If you are playing for the “Springfield Dolphins” it is the school’s team and publicly funded event. The kids know this coach because this is the dude they have to play for if they go out for their school’s team.
Does this coach’s religious belief require him to bare witness in this way? (I’m honestly asking). Maybe his religion requires him to coach for a private league if it requires him to try to convert other people’s kids. Does the coach help the kids of other faiths who are required to “bare witnesses” pray to THEIR faiths, or is this coach Christian prayer only?
I agree that an MLK poster is not religious, but political speech is the most highly protected level of speech in the first amendment. Apart from MLK’s obvious value as a historical and educational figure, the teacher has some free speech. Imagine if the Obama poster guy lead prayer to the Obama classroom poster with his students. It would still be really strange if it were done outside of school hours and totally optional. Are the students who pray to the Obama poster getting and special treatment or grades?
How do you admit that the prayer delineates Christians and non Christians without saying it also creates an in group/out group?
It wouldn’t sit right with me to deride the Christian athletes as “nerds” but, in our example, doing so would also be calling out the coach for HIS religious beliefs. In this example, the Christian Athletes’ beliefs are sanctioned by the authority figure. Isn’t it more likely the kids who don’t conform to the prayer could be made fun of (“Jew” or other?)
I use the term “groom” to point out there is an authority imbalance where the students choose to pray and the coach leads the prayer.
Yes, I absolutely agree that an authority figure outside of the home encouraging the family’s religious belief system can be meaningful for a child. I bet the coach thinks so. Doesn’t the First Amendment also require us the look at weather the authority figure encouraging a different belief system can have a chilling affect where it is different than what is taught at home?