When I was in a public elementary school there was no daily prayer.  I started attending a new public elementary school in grade 6 (not Catholic) because our family had moved. I remembered the first day at the new school, the teacher led us in the lord's prayer. I had never heard of it before in my life prior to that.  It was strange to me that kids were bowing their heads as our teacher recited unfamiliar words, some kids knew the words and recited along.  One kid in class (who I later learned was a Jehovah's Witness) would leave the classroom. The teacher started asking a different student each day to lead the class. I was too timid to question the teacher even though it felt as though something was being forced on me. I knew a day would come when he would ask me to lead the class. Fearful of being embarrassed for not knowing the words I asked a family friend if he knew the words and if he could write them out so I could memorize them. My day came, I spoke the hollow words.