In a move to prevent violent outbreaks on its campus and improve students’ general performance, administrators at Ardenne High School have added ‘corporate prayers’ to the annual calendar.

Normally, Ardenne High starts each day with the singing of the National Anthem, then staff prayers, followed by classroom devotions.

But since June 3, the school has held two prayer sessions involving parents, friends and relatives of the students, and a number of church leaders in an hour-long series beginning with the re-dedication of Ardenne to God.

This is followed by prayers against violence, vandalism and petitions to God seeking academic success, an increase in love and unity, financial prosperity, good health and well-being for staff, students and their relatives.

School administrators who spoke to the Observer said the corporate prayers, which were held for the second time in early November, also sought to restore fear of and reverence for God after several satanic game cards were found circulating among students.

According to Maureen Paisley, head of the Religious Education Department, who initiated the corporate prayer effort, some unknown group of persons have been circulating false doctrines on the school campus, specifically telling students there is no God.

“After the prayers, a student showed (a teacher) a card; it had a figure on it with a name underneath; under this name was written, ‘the power of darkness’,” Paisley said in her report to the school.

“The teacher was told that there are several such cards in the school, which the children used to play games,” Paisley said.

“They further told her that these cards are usually kept under the desks. A parent said she was glad for the prayers because she was told by her daughter that there was a group of students here (at Ardenne) who said that there is no God and (question) what is His purpose?”

Vice-principal Merlene Bingham said there were noticeable improvements since the June 3 prayers which preceded the end-of-year exams.

“One thing I’ve noticed is that the children seem to be a little more sedate and focused and there is more concentration in what they are doing,” Bingham said.

She added that staff, students and their parents were requesting that more corporate prayers be held, at least twice per term. Ultimately she hopes the extended devotions will help students and their parents spiritually and her wish is that other schools will do the same.

evansv@jamaicaobserver.com