The United States has continued to be a country where religion plays a major role in the lives of American citizens. Depending on the type of school students attend, organized prayer is mandatory, allowed, or banned. In the United States, organized prayer in public schools is prohibited because it goes against the Constitution’s separation of church and state (Jinkins 123). The United States promises religious freedom, but is yet to define the degree and limitation of that liberty. However, American citizens have been debating for many years, whether organized prayer should be an option or obligation in public schools. Some people believe that organized prayer or religious classes would be a benefit to young people and should be allowed …show more content…
Therefore, supporters of organized prayer believe religion strongly influences their children’s education. Still, critics believe that public schools are for education and not for religious observances. “If God himself gave human beings free will- the choice to love him or not, to obey him or not-then no believer should try to force another to confess a faith” (Meacham 101). Those who practice religion know that God has given everyone free will, and with free will, one has the choice to practice religion in school. Some individuals are raised with religious beliefs and others are not. Religion should not be forced upon those who do not wish to practice their faith publicly. As researcher Christopher Ruddy said, “The best place for faith to be taught to kids is in the home, church, and private schools” (qtd. in Jinkins 126). When students attend school, they are there to further their education, instead of being forced to organized prayer. Having organized pray would not be fair to the other students who do not practice religion. It is obvious that there are other opportunities to practice faith other than mandating students to participate in organized prayer in public schools. Proponents also feel that taxpayers should have the right to let their children take religious classes. Parents of children who cannot afford to send their children to a private school feel that their children should have the same opportunity to attend
Religion is one of the most controversial issues in society today. The concern of allowing prayer in schools is an on-going debate and has resulted in numerous lawsuits. Religious school clubs, after school activities, curriculums, and moments of silence during school are just a few of the court cases that judges have administered. People in favor of prayer in schools believe that their children can only learn certain values through religious practice. On the other hand, an individual against religious practice in schools views this issue as an infringement on his or her children’s rights as Americans.
The question of whether or not religion should be taught in public schools has been an ongoing debate among parents and teachers for decades. In the article “Religion and Education: The Pitfalls of Engaging a Complex Issue” Martin E. Marty and Jonathan Moore express their views on the matter. They express that religion in public schools could potentially bring conflict to families. They also support the other scenario that religion classes would inform students of the different beliefs of the people they will meet throughout their lives. Religion in the public school system is still an ongoing debate, one that needs to be resolved. The children that will be affected by the outcome of this debate are the future leaders of America, therefore, we should not take this decision lightly. Children everywhere and in all schools need to be taught about different religions so they can make a firm stand for what they believe in.
In schools, the place where Americans first learned critical fundamentals and values of freedom, religion is separated from home life to school life. In the United States, 89% of public school teacher’s cannot lead a class in prayer, 36% can teach a class comparing religions in different countries, and only 23% can read from the Bible for examples of literature (citation). Without religious instruction in schools, students are not granted with the option to display their faith and practice their religion in a school setting. Despite the advantages, some Americans argue that teaching religion in public schools can be dangerous and harmful to students. Schools disapproving of students practicing
There is a controversial debate about daily prayer in school. Some people look at a general overview of the religion in school, some look at the political and governmental views, and some look at the statistical side of daily prayer in school or prayer at other school functions. Research shows that there are several different point of views on what type of religion to allow or what not to allow when it comes to religion. Schools are bad about not letting students and teacher have a small devotion. Public schools should allow the practice of prayer or any type of religious use within the school facilities. There are all sorts of religion, why not practice them all?
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
Public schools exist to educate not to proselytize. There are many people that believe prayer doesn't belong in the schools, because it violates the separation of church and state. What does the separation of church
For centuries, the debate has existed whether or not to allow prayer in public schools. Many Americans feel it is not right of the schools to teach religion. With all the diversity associated with the United States, public schools cannot select one standard religion to practice, due to the cultural and religious differences in the country. Not only are schools the storm center of controversy involving religious differences, they are the principal institution charged with transmitting the identity and mission of the United States from one generation to the next. If we fail in our school policies and classrooms to model and to teach how to live with differences, we endanger our experiment in religious liberty and our
The issue of prayer in public schools is a highly discussed and salient topic. There are on-going cases in the courts regarding this topic of whether religion has a place in public institutions. For instance, I came across an article on the New York Times titled “Illinois School Settles Separation of Church and State Case”, where a public school has agreed to discontinue the practice of asking students who take the bus to arrive early for optional religious lectures at a Roman Catholic parish (Press). This decision stemmed from the legal challenge brought upon the school. Prior to this legal challenge, generations of students from the Teutopolis Grade School have begun their day with Catholic Mass or other prayer services at the St. Francis
he question of religious involvement in public education has been a controversial topic since before America was a country. Thomas Paine, one of our founding fathers, expressed, “As to religion, I hold it to be the indispensable duty of the government to protect all conscientious protesters thereof, and I know of no other business government has to do therewith,” (“20 Quotes”). While the separation of church and state was a necessity made clear by Thomas Jefferson in the first amendment of the Constitution, the question differentiating freedom of religion and freedom from religion remains intangible. The public university of Arkansas State confronted this debate in September of 2014 after the death of two of its esteemed football team associates.
but, so far no compromise has been agreed upon. This is due to the fact that
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.
Religion in public schooling is a major controversy proven by the fact that Americans have been debating the place of God in schools almost repeatedly since public education got its start in the country nearly two hundred years ago. As the United States becomes more religiously diverse, its shared doubt on this issue becomes more prominent. Not even the Supreme Court, with its muddled and unclear ruling on the establishment
In a country founded on religious freedom. The debate of having religion in our public school system has been the source of and enormous conflict. This question dates back further than the 19th century but its still foundation of many heated discussions that presently takes place in this day and age. The vast majority oppose to the thought of religion being present in our public school system. Relying on “The First Amendment” of the US Constitution. Which states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof”. This amendment also established “The Separation of Church and State” which is the political and legal doctrine that establishes that religious and government institutions
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, religion is an “organized system of beliefs” that has certain rules in worshiping a god or multiple gods. For many years, the role of teaching the Bible and prayer in public schools has been a major dispute causing religious freedom issues in America. Because of this controversy, the U.S. Supreme Court has long made it clear that the Constitution prohibits public school-sponsored prayer or religious instruction. Although the law has taken effect, there are still topics under debate. Even though the Constitutional law protects the rights of public school students, why does it not fully defend the staff and faculty members? Including religion in the core curriculum helps create a well-rounded education for the students. School boards must take into consideration the economic effects that have bombarded the young adults because of their restrictions towards religious beliefs. Public school systems, including students and staff members, should be allowed to participate in religious activities because of their constitutional freedom, educational purposes, and improvement of political life.
Religion and prayer can benefit students in educational settings by positively contributing to better grades and behavior. Personal faith and prayer are important to people in many walks of life. Some individuals believe that this need for religious stimulation includes the youth in our school systems. There are different reasons why knowledge of religion and prayer can be important to students. For example, if students do not know about diverse faiths, it can be difficult for them to have a well-rounded knowledge and understanding of other cultures. There are oppositional sides to this issue as well. Some people believe that prayer in educational settings could be used as a way to persuade students into believing certain things that they