The Washington Post's “On Faith” site currently features a post by J. Brent Walker, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee, explaining “How to Pray at School.” In it, Walker touts the “See You at the Pole” event that “leads students to gather around their school flagpole for prayer on the fourth Wednesday of September”:

First begun by Texas Baptists almost two decades ago, “See You at the Pole” has spread across the country, and it now garners participation by students of many denominational ties. It is important to highlight this program because it provides an example of how students can properly engage in religious exercises, even in the public schools.

Walker recognizes one possible “pitfall” of holding such demonstrations around the U.S. flag:

Finally, students should avoid being lulled into a civil religion trap. Joining hands in a circle facing the quintessential symbol of our country, the American Flag, makes this a real risk. Yes, we are told in Scriptures to pray for our leaders. Students should understand they are not praying to Caesar, but to God.

Oddly, though, it doesn't seem to have occurred to Walker that by holding their prayer group under the “quintessential symbol of our country,” “See You at the Pole” participants a fundamentally linking their religion with America, and with patriotism. They risk conveying to non-participants that if they don't join the prayers, they are less “American” than those who do. That they undermine the spirit of the separation of church and state, if not any legal prohibitions on the same.

Walker concludes:

There are so many ways to do religion in public schools right. “See You at the Pole,” when properly done, is one of the best. We don't need, and should not want, the government's help in our religious activities. Let the students pray, but let the government keep out of it.

So why choose the flag as the location? Doing so implies government help, even if none exists.