William Edwards: “Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment offered by the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Johnson] and the gentleman…”

“Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment offered by the gentleman from Texas [Mr. Johnson] and the gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. Duncan]. Back in 1963 when the Supreme Court outlawed compulsory religious services, that is what we are talking about, in the public schools, there was a lot of compulsory religious services all over this Nation. The Supreme Court found that terribly sad things were happening, children of different religions were going through horrible experiences in portions of the country, well, we will say in Mormon country, where most of the children happen to be Mormons and the prayers always followed that religion, and in Baptist country, and in Catholic areas, and so forth. So the children who were not of that denomination, who did not believe that, children were hurt and humiliated by the fact that prayers were being held in religions other than theirs and which they might have strongly disagreed with. Really, it was a very controversial decision of the Supreme Court based on the First Amendment that says that the Government is supposed to stay out of religion. It must stay out. It cannot support, it cannot demand, it cannot countenance compulsory religious services in schools. Mr. Chairman, there is no doubt, absolutely, no doubt, that freedom of prayer is protected in schools. A child in a public school can pray, can read the Bible, all in his or her free time.…”