Persuasive Essay: Putting Prayer In Schools

Prayer should allowed in the public school system because prayer is an important part of America’s rich spiritual heritage. All throughout the history of America there have been many important documents written of our country that have references to “Almighty God,” “Thy Blessings,” and “Our dependence upon Thee.” These include: the Declaration of Independence, the Gettysburg Address, the national anthem, and the presidential oath (Haas, 1995, p. 39). In school students always say the pledge, which states, “One Nation Under God.” A prayer says that students just want to ask for a good day and guidance throughout the day. Not only do important documents of our country refer to God but also the words “In God We Trust” are engraved on all coins minted and bills pressed in the United States (1995, p. 39). There are two parts of the American tradition and they are prayer and religion (1995, p. 39). If society keeps prayer out of the public schools, they are teaching the students that traditions are not important and that what this country was founded upon does not matter. Does society want to raise a group of young people to disrespect what their forefathers wanted; religious freedom? If that is the case then why do people try to keep this country working at its prime when trouble occurs? People do not want to see this nation fall but in the end it

Should prayer be allowed in public schools? This is a question with a highly controversial answer. There are many different angles to this question with varying ideas and opinions that never seem to agree with one another. The issue of prayer in public schools has, and will continue to be, at the center of many controversial debates. Just consider the fact that public educational system in United States is a secular or non-religious one that is quick to shut down any religious actions. This is the main reason why it is so difficult to bring forth any kind of change that will bridge the gap between school and religion. There have been several attempts over the years to use the power of the first amendment of the United States constitution which expresses the right to freedom of speech and religion to justify prayer in schools. Although the first amendment clearly sets out to protect religion from government intervention, the U.S Supreme court has ruled prayer in public school “unconstitutional” because it violates the separation of the church and the state.

Many people agree against prayer in public schools, while others think that people should be able to express their religion in their own ways. In public schools, they are not allowed to hold prayers at all during the school day due to the mixed religion students that are attending the school. Over the past few years, this has become an extremely controversial issue in our nation. Many people find it proper to pray in school but many people also agree that it is extremely wrong and that if there is going to be pray in school, every religion should be addressed. The government cannot make a law about having a certain religion banned or allowed in a school setting. Children are allowed to pray on their own time as long as it does not

Those who are for prayer being allowed in public schools believe that it is illegal to prohibit students from doing so. Many will argue that it is a violation of student 's right to not allow them pray during school hours. For instance, “The new law requires public schools to develop policies that will allow students to pray

but, so far no compromise has been agreed upon. This is due to the fact that

They also argue that the government should not allow prayer to be in schools. Praising the 1962, the U.S. Supreme Court banning of prayer and religious readings from public schools. Saying that school prayer assumes that all students believe in God, and that a given prayer might be applicable to all different faiths that could be practiced among students. It is much more likely that the typical prayer or

Most individuals on the liberal spectrum tend to agree with the courts when it declared government sponsored prayers are unconstitutional. The less conservative individuals show a tendency to believe that any amendment that allows for voluntary prayer would contradict the first amendment guarantee against government establishment of religion. Most on the liberal spectrum or those that feel the government does not have enough power feel that any sort of Government action to allow voluntary prayer in schools could be at the cost of the civil rights of students. It is believed that any amendment or law consenting for voluntary prayer would diminish the very heart of the Bill of Rights; which protects the rights of people from the oppression from the majority. Those that do not allow or want to allow prayer in school think that any amendment affirming that prayer should be allowed in school would actually introduce assembled prayer or force persons into prayer. Those that clash with prayer in school fear that judgement against those that do not participate in school prayer. Those in the small percentage that do not want to participate would be obligated to follow to a belief or ritual that which they do not believe. This could cause the individual to suffer the humiliation or burden of submitting a day-to-day spiritual exercise continuously in order to avoid being singled out by mainstream colleagues and educators.

The issue of school prayer is not one of religious freedom, as it is already legal for children to pray in school, either individually or in groups. Since the Engel decision in 1962, religious advocates have been assailing the Supreme Court for "taking God out of the classroom." In an effort to reverse this trend, conservative religious groups have been fighting for the passage of a school prayer amendment to gain greater leeway for religious activities in schools.

As a nation and mature decision of government prayer in public schools should not be an issue. The first amendment rights clearly give you the right to freedom of speech, expression, and religion. It is something that should be allowed if students are taught and allowed to say the pledge of allegiance which states one nation under god. I do not know if religion is an issue, but stating the pledge of allegiance do not make much more of a difference. Religious freedom was clearly expressed in the first amendment as it states congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise of using it out all the issue presented and solved in the government, and across the nation, why is payer in public schools

When America was founded, America’s Founding Fathers created the separation of church and state so the government would not be allowed to control the type of religion the American people preferred. In recent years, though people continuously taken that out of context and twisted the words of our First Amendment. Many people believe since public schools are a government facility, they cannot contain anything related to religion, including history topics, prayer in schools, or even religious clubs. Although there might be a fine line between church and school, having a basis of religion in education will help teach students more historical facts about America as well as help them grow morally. Religion in its entirety should not be taken out of the schools, but instead should be looked at to help better students educationally and ethically.

What’s the harm in an occasional spoken prayer at school every now and then? Are times such as an assembly, sporting event, or graduation acceptable? The debate of prayer in public schools has been an ongoing issue for over fifty years now. It seems like a simple yes or no answer. As a Christian who attended a private school, my initial answer was a definite “yes.” I have always believed that God should be present in every school all over the world mainly because my school’s activities were centered around prayer. However, after much research, I have found a different point of view. Prayer should not be allowed in public schools due to the fact that these schools consist of numerous religions, it is unconstitutional, and it creates different burdens for each person in the school.

So many times after the pledge of allegiance, the moment of silence is taken into account, to pray for many things that happen in the world. Now, there is an argument and controversy in that; prayer or acts of religion should be taken out of school. School prayer should not be taken out of schools because it brings unity between people, a form of expression, and builds morality.

America is a very diverse country, and it is very important that all of our public school’s respect student’s beliefs. Praying is a very important part of faith in most religion beliefs. Not allowing students to pray would be unconstitutional. It is also written in the First Amendment the right of freedom of speech, we as Americans should be allowed to pray in school. Students also have the right to pray under protected guidelines that have been set by the Supreme Court. This country was also built on freedom to practice any religion.

The issue of school prayer is about whether the public school systems should let the students pray, at the start of the school day as a class. The issue of school prayer began in the late sixteenth. Recently the U.S. Supreme court announced that it would not hear the appeals of a case banning the traditional school prayer.The concept of prayer in public schools remains controversial for more than 50 years after the Supreme Court ruled against school-led prayer.U.S. Supreme Court banned school-sponsored prayer in public schools in a landmark 1962 decision, saying that it violated the First Amendment.The absence of prayer in public schools is the blame for violence, drug use, and social decay. The case for bringing back school prayer weakens even more as the nation becomes even more diverse. Federal Law required school to permit only silent prayer. Some schools banned prayer entirely, but others gave students a one-minute period of silence. I think students should be able to express their religion in the way they were taught. Prayers bring people together in many different ways. Prayers should help student get through their

Imposing prayer in schools should be a given right and not be forced upon people. A person should have the freedom to pray or not. In some schools, prayer is not allowed at all, and some people may be offended. Yet, if a student does not want to pray in school by force then as citizens of America we have the right to pray and worship as we please.