As a teacher I have no problem with a student taking a minute to pray. I also am not a preacher and don't feel qualified to teach religious ideas to middle schoolers. I Religion should be taught at home and at church. We already have enough to do in schools today.
Personally, I don't pray, it seems like a silly primative ritual to me. Before you bash me for that I will tell you that I am very spiritual.
As far as the pledge, we do it in my first period class everyday. It is a great signal that school has begun and it reminds us that we are Americans.