Should Prayer Be Taken Out Of Schools

It is not coincidental that there has been an increase in births to single mothers, divorce rates tripling, and teenage suicide increasing. Allowing prayer in schools has set valuable standards and morals for graduates and current pupils. Currently ninety percent of the countries kids are enrolled in the public school system being influenced every single day they are present. Proven by previously mentioned statistics, the majority of morals clearly dropped after the removal of prayer in public schools in 1962. Without prayer, people have become more and more obliterate to God-based values, this causes people to neglect crucial things such as the sacredness of marriage. “After 1963 divorces increased by 300% each following year”(Prayer in America) Many argue and take to the opposition that marriage is just a piece of paper, when in all generality, it is a gift from God. Single mothers, sexually transmitted diseases, divorces, violent crimes, and teen suicide

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

There are issues regarding prayer in public schools. I feel that school prayer would cause many societal benefits. Our public school system is tragically disintegrating as evidenced by multiple school shootings, increasing drug use, alcoholism, teen pregnancy, and HIV transmission. The U.S. such as the employment of congressional chaplains or government recognition of holidays with religious significance and National Days of Prayer. I feel that school prayer can help combat these issues, would install a sense of morality and is desperately needed to protect our children. School Prayer would address the needs of the whole person. Schools must do more than train children’s minds academically. They also, must nurture their souls and reinforce the values taught at home and in the

The removal of prayer from public schools is a very controversial and misunderstood debate. This paper will address the history of the debate, common myths and misunderstandings, and the current trends.

Allowing prayer in public schools remains a divisive and extremely passionate issue for various individuals. Americans have voted against the guiding principles for prayer in school, but the question, "should prayer be allowed in school?" continues to arise. Prayer in public schools has become one of the most controversial issues in the United States today. What keeps this matter boiling is the fear that a child will be influenced, or even worse, “offended” by another’s spiritual beliefs. By removing school prayer, the U.S Supreme Court has misconstrued the Establishment Clause of the Constitution. In order to protect our neighbor’s feelings, we have replaced the ingredients of religion and prayer in our schools with teen pregnancy, increased alcohol and drug use, sex, suicide, school shootings, and last but not least, an excessive amount of entitlement. Our children need something bigger than themselves to turn to when they are faced with difficult times. A simple two minute moment of silence would allow believers and non-believers the opportunity to meditate each morning and set the mood for the remainder of the day.

A wall of separation has long been established and it is understood that two basic institutions of society can influence one another, yet neither will dominate the other. The issue of teaching religion in school can be judged by this principal. A strong point addressed, which I agree with, states that teaching morals and values is different than teaching religion.

What is the point of having freedom of speech and the freedom to express your religion if in reality you cannot? What makes school different from any other place nothing really cause god everywhere you go. As a government, the government should be able to come up with decision. I am sure most of the government representatives come from a Christian family so they should know how I feel about prayer in public school. Having a prayer in school is not time assuming if that is an issue. To know that everyone does not come from the same religious culture is understandable. Students should be allowed to take out some time to pray to their higher power. Our former president Thomas Jefferson came up with the idea of separating the church and static. He wrote it in a letter because at the time America was settled by colonist seeking religious freedom from government persecution. The school s system was funded and created by the church. The tax payers whom are keeping the public school district running should have an opinion as well as any idea or law that is

For much of the 20th Century and into the 21st, school prayer has been the focal point of an ongoing debate about the position of religion in American civilization. The question of the legality of prayer in public schools brings together a number of important notions in American government and legal philosophy. Opponents and proponents of school prayer set forth their arguments in such major constitutional issues as the separation of church and state, the right to free exercise of religion, and the respective powers of local, state, and national governments. Since hearing its first case on the issue in 1962, the United States Supreme Court has passed down at least one verdict dealing with school prayer in each consecutive decade. In result, this makes school prayer a durable and highly momentous topic in the fields of education and law. In the United States, there is a constant between people being able to pray in public or not. For the supporters of public prayer, the constitution supports their freedom of religion to be able to uplift prayers whenever they wish. For the ones who oppose public prayer, the constitution states the separation of church and state. The United States has had a moral decline since prayers were taken out of our schools. Until the early 20th Century, prayer was an accepted feature of public education. During the 18th and 19th centuries, America continued a de facto Christian homeland, and public school curriculum imitated this fact. The modern,

No one says students have to pray during the moment of silence. Besides,stuudents are able to get exempt from classroom if the actibvity goes agaiinst their belief. Whatever students believe in they have the right to talk about it at school. Thats another part of the first amendmenmt, freedom of speech. Our beliefs doesnt make any of us better than each other, whether you believe in god or not, we're all created equal.

An example was the case of Lee v. Weisman and Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe. Where public prayer was conducted in the school graduation ceremonies and high sporting events such as, football and basketball games. The issue of pray in public school remains contentious, in countries, such as Canada, United States, Russia, and Poland the attempt to balance between religious and secular activity in state-sponsored arenas The United States has created a “moment of silence’ or ‘moment of reflection’ in which a student may say a silent prayer if he or she wishes to do so. I think that prayers are needed in school because there is a lot going on in the world and prayer will not hurt anyone. There is so much violent out here that they should have at least different times of the day where students can go and just pray. They should be able to pray in a group or even alone. I think that keeping prayer in the school is needed. The first Supreme Court case studied in the lesson is Engel v. Vitale (1962). This made it unconstitutional for school staffing to lead students in prayer. The next Supreme Court case studied in this lesson is Lee V. Weisman

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . . “ I believe that people should be allowed to pray anywhere if they so choose, including in school. Putting prayer back into schools is the best decision for students and society. Freedom of religion is a right that is given to all American citizens and should not be taken away. This great country has given the gift of religious tolerance, and people from other countries envy it. Putting these values back in place will help change our society, laying a foundation for better principles and morals than that of today’s culture, and reducing violence in our society. Prayer in school is a choice that should be tolerated, and not forced upon anyone. Those who choose to pray should not have that right taken away and those who choose not to pray shouldn’t be coerced into it by others.

One reason schools should be allowed to conduct prayer is children will develop great positive attitudes. Schools are filled with children and faulty of different up comings and backgrounds. Some might had never been to a church, been baptized, or even open a Bible. I know many people have different

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.

Even though public schools today are without school prayer, most schools have replaced prayer, with a "Silent moment of reflection." Also, the assumption if there is a God or not is a big question as well. I think prayer should be re-instated into schools, because children should be able to express religion freely. I also feel that lack of discipline; youth pregnancy, dropouts, and violence in schools are other issues that can be more controllable if there were religious classes and school prayer.

By allowing prayer in schools, you would give religious students the freedom to follow their religious beliefs during the school day. The United States was founded by those who believed in the freedom to practice religion openly. Those who are for prayer say that prayer would help instill moral values, something many say today’s youth is lacking. In addition to teaching our children academically, schools must also reinforce the values taught at home and in the community. It is a strong belief that by returning prayer to school, it would lead to increased tolerance, decrease bullying, and promote positive values. By allowing prayer, and the above listed actions, there should be a decrease in the negativity that is happening in our schools. Overall, it is believed that the schools will be a more positive place to be, and our youth will be more respectable citizens (All About History, 2011).