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NY School's Plan For Yoga Creates Church-State Controversy

By Howard M. Friedman

In Massena, New York, to the surprise of the Massena Board of Education, a church-state controversy has broken out over plans to introduce yoga in the classroom as a technique to relieve stress before exams. Newsday reported yesterday that the Board has agreed to delay its decision on adopting the program and has invited two teachers who have developed the proposal to demonstrate the relaxation techniques at this month's Board meeting. Rev. Colin Lucid of Calvary Baptist Church, one of the opponents, said: "We are not opposed to the benefits. We can understand the benefits. We are opposed to the philosophy behind it and that has its ties in Hinduism and the way they were presenting it." School board president Julie Reagan, however, said that there are no religious motives involved and that Federal grants are available to teachers seeking yoga certification. Some 100 schools in 26 states have already introduced yoga.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on October 03, 2008 (boomark / email).