Last week the Lord’s Prayer was taken out of Taber school temporarily due to complaints from a parent whose children come home upset for being criticized for not participating.

After hearing speeches from the concerned parent Melanie Bell and then from other parents wanting to bring back the prayer, the Board of Trustees decided the best move was  to take the prayer out of Dr. Hamman’s school for good.

The board also passed a motion that directs the superintendents to create a policy that describes the process for when to direct schools to open its day with the prayer.

Bell is pleased with the decision for now although she knows there is a good possibility the prayer might be brought up again.

“I am happy that it is out of Dr. Hamman although I am sad that it is still in other public schools,” said Bell.
“At least the schools have to let parents know. I know it will be brought up again, but for this year it is out until they come up with a policy. The only way they can bring it back is in the morning opening like before, but my kids and others that don’t want to partake [will have to go out] in the hall, which is not right.”

Although the prayer has been taken out of Dr. Hamman, several other schools in the Horizon School District will still have the prayer including all Hutterite colonies schools, Chamberlain School, Vauxhall Elementary School, Enchant School, Central School (Mennonite Program only), Hays School, Lomond School, Taber Mennonite School and Horizon Mennonite Alternative School.

Even though Bell still receives dirty looks from the Taber residents, a town that’s 86 per cent Christian, she’s prepared to keep fighting if the prayer comes back to the school.

“I am going to relax for now and see what they are going to do next year,” said Bell.
“If it [the prayer] does come back, I am willing to fight it. I do believe Alberta education needs to take a new look at [the policy]. [The] policy’s over 100-years -old, women were not even allowed to vote back then.”