As religious observances start, such as Ramadan and Lent, students seeking a prayer room remain a top priority. A prayer room here on campus allows for a place where students can go and fulfill their religious duties. However, the Preuss administration will not be providing a prayer space for students and instead will leave room for students to pray during their lunch break.
This year all students will have to pray during their lunch with an extra five minutes if needed. Last year, students were able to pray at their own certain times but due to timing with and for different religious groups at Preuss, the administration decided to make one set time for everyone so that they are inclusive.
For the administration the establishment of a prayer room is difficult because of the constant factors that get in the way of providing the prayer room. Last year, they reached out to students and parents on Parent Square and provided areas like the conference rooms, the library, and even tents right outside the office.
“We did our own personal research on the religious traditions or holidays,” said Vice Principal Brown.
According to VP Brown, last year there were many behavioral issues in regards to the prayer room. In response to these issues the administration expressed the idea of having parent volunteers that can monitor the students, but the office staff ended up supervising the students.
VP Brown added, “Students need to be monitored by adults.”
This year, the administration has sent out permission slips for parents to sign acknowledging that they are aware of their students praying on campus. According to the permission slip, because of space storage the library and the conference rooms will not be available for students to use. Students will be expected to find their own prayer space.
VP Brown stated “Some students have been working with teachers. Some students have already found spots of their own.”
On the permission slip, the administration has made it aware that students’ privilege of having prayer access will be revoked if any behavioral or academic issues arise. The office will contact home to let parents or guardians know that the student will not have the abilities to fulfill their religious duties during instructional time.
According to VP Brown, this new policy of giving out permission slips were introduced due to the many behavioral issues the administration had to face last year.
“I know there are many people who use prayer time as an excuse to leave and ditch class but I also know that there are some people who are very serious about their prayers,” said Reem Faqi (‘28), a student who participates in the religious observances.
“We still want to provide students a space to exercise their religious freedoms and just to be themselves,” said VP Brown.
Students are grateful for the administration’s efforts in order to secure a time for students to go out and pray. But students have issues with the new policies that were established this year that were addressed in the permission slip.
“I think the administration tries, but having only one slot for students to pray isn’t really reliable for some students here on campus,” said Shahad Abdilliahi (‘28).
“In the end I’m grateful that I’ll still have the opportunity to fulfill my prayers,” said Faqi (‘28).
