Research-Based Position Essay: No Prayer In Public Schools

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.

Another issue has been the banning of public prayer in schools. It was decided that public prayer should be outlawed in the Supreme Court case Engel v. Vitale. (Schlafly et al. 150) Some people could understand this as it is not right to make prayer mandatory in school, when there are people who don’t believe in any religion. What might get some people is what was decided in 1962 by the Supreme Court,”… even a voluntary, non-denominational school prayer led by a public school official violated the Establishment Clause of the First Ammendment.” (Merino 8) Many people might wonder why prayer in school, if held on a voluntary basis, is bad. Why shouldn’t the kids who want to participate in prayer at school not be allowed to? One reason could be that the school officials don’t want to put a target on kid’s backs. For example, if everyone but one kid did partake in prayer that kid may get bullied or questioned or at the very least feel left out. The same could be true if only one kid went to prayer, that child could feel targeted and awkward. Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe, which took place in 2000, decided that any individual could pray at

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

Over the past three decades, the issue of the role of prayer in the public school system has become increasingly controversial. The current debate juggles the opposing interpretations of the exact intentions of America's Founders, who came from an other country, England, in pursuite of expanded freedoms. The first colonists in the 17th century especially desired religious freedom, because their former British government forced them all to learn and practice a centralized religion. Consequently, A merica's first legislators made certain that their religiously pluralistic nation would not be the victim of government intervention in religious matters. Therefore, religious freedom was guaranteed in the First Amendment to the

Prayer in school has always been a very controversial issue. In 1963, the Supreme Court case of The Abington School District v. Schempp was broadcasted for the nation, opening up the issue with public schools requiring prayer as part of their education. The case told of The Abington Country School District requiring elementary children to read 10 verses of the Holy Bible each morning in school. The problem with the school requiring such a task is that not all the students were Catholic. One parent in particular, Ellery Schempp, was very much against this practice in the public school. He made the executive decision to take the Abington School District to court in hopes to allow children to find their own form of religion. In the end, the case

There are many different philosophies regarding prayer in public school. It seems to be a difficult issue to decide upon. The opinions are wide-ranging and convoluted. This paper will attempt to highlight the many ideas and opinions as to whether prayers in public school should be allowed and to what extent. It will further show how our founders' idea of a separate church and state has been taken out of context and why prayer in school should be allowed, but not required.

America is a very unique country. Considering America's diversity and constitutional beginings, religion has always been a red hot topic for debate; especially when it comes to its inclusion in our public school system. The first ammendment says this: "Congres shall not pass no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise therof". It is these words that caused religion in public schools to spiral into one of the most contested issues in America today. The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has also created a divide among Americans on this issue. SCOTUS has protected the student's rights to pray, read from the Bible, wear religious headresses, express their religious view etc, but at the same

This chart illustrates what prayer in public schools might look like without the restrictions that are currently in place in our public schools. Is this what Americans want? Is this what Christians want? Would such a plan work? Probably not. When it comes to their religion, most people struggle to see beyond their own nose. Most people, including Christians, would balk at any plan or situation that held their children as a captive audience to philosophies and beliefs they do not support, and that is exactly why prayer exists as it does in today’s public schools. Current restrictions on prayer in public schools have nothing to do with a conspiracy to take God and prayer from schools. The religious limitations placed on adults in public schools are a safeguard to protect children from adult religious influences that may be in conflict with the religious teachings and values taught in the home and church. For parents, for Christians, to insist prayer be allowed in schools without restrictions is dangerous to the very values the Christian community or any other religious community wishes to instill in their children.

Bible’s and prayer were taken out of school because people did not want God forced upon themselves and their children. Prayer was not the reason it was taken out of the schools the real reason was God.When America was founded God, the bible, and prayer played a significant role in everyday life. In the eighteenth century prayer in schools began. Everyday students and teachers would begin with an oral prayer to start the class with. this continued well through the nineteenth and early twentieth centries. In the year nineteen sixty three prayer was forbidden to even be spoken in schools.

In addition, school teachers and administrators may not organize or encourage prayer in the classroom (www.ed). Even with these guidelines, the debate over the extent of religion in public schools continues.

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

Rather it be Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, or even an Atheist, this country is broken up into a diverse religious matter and we need to respect others and the way they praise. The government should not completely ban prayer out of schools, but if the majority if the student population is Christian, prayer being enhanced should be no problem. I believe that prayer and glorifying is a choice not a decision. A person may feel weird or uncomfortable if they are forced to do something they do not want to do. As given by the first amendment, the Supreme Court cannot force any of us to pray in a certain environment. Due to prayer being a cultural indifference people are taught by parents and the influence someone has at home, not in public if students do not want

The Supreme Court made school prayer unconstitutional, but is still debated today. People who agree with prayer say that if they remove prayer, that it is the public school’s mission to “provide children with an education in mores and values, as well as academic preparation.” Supporters also say that when students volunteer to pray, they have the right to the law of separation of church and state, and other laws between the lines of freedom of religion. In “God we Trust” mottos and using the Bible for swearing in public officials and federal holidays that have a religious background on them. People that are

One of the main arguments to keep prayer in public schools is to keep a moral setting at schools. “School prayer would result in many societal benefits. The public school system is tragically disintegrating as evidenced by the rise in school shootings, increasing drug use, alcoholism, teen pregnancy, and HIV transmission. School prayer can help combat these issues, would instill a sense of morality and is desperately needed to protect our children” (All about History 1). Also, they provide us with statistics proving that once teacher led prayer were declared unconstitutional and taken out of the schools systems, there was a steady rise in crime rates in school, teenage pregnancies, and etc. Shedwin Eliassin provides us with this information, “Our school systems aren’t doing any better since the removal of prayer in schools. In fact, some may say that the situation has gotten much worse, especially in terms of school violence. In 2007, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that 5.9 percent of students carry weapons to school with them, 7.8 percent have been threatened or injured on campuses nationwide and 12.4 percent of students have been in a physical fight on school grounds at least once. The most recent studies have found that 5.3 percent of students do not go to school because they do not feel safe” (1). Finally, they argue

In today’s public school system, approximately eight out of every ten schools do not allow any praying whatsoever. Since banning prayer in school, the disciplining of children has greatly diminished. Praying is a religious activity, but it can also become a way for citizens to come together in a peaceful manner. At this time in America’s life, there are more cases going to the Supreme Court about religious happenings in school than ever before. The U.S. should allow prayer in schools for ethical, legal and social reasons.