The Bible 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.

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

The case of Wallace v. Jaffree calls into question the constitutionality of an Alabama statute that authorized teachers to lead a one-minute period of silence for “meditation or voluntary” prayer in all public schools. Ishmael Jaffree, the parent of three students in the Mobile County Public School system filed a complaint that two of his three children had been “subjected to various acts of religious indoctrination,” as a result of Alabama statute 16-1-20.1 and asked for an injunction prohibiting Mobile County schools from “maintaining or allowing the maintenance of regular religious prayer services.” The purpose of Jaffree’s complaint was to prohibit the devotional services occurring in his children’s school and the consequent mockery of his children that occurred when they refused to recite the prayers to “Almighty God” (Stevens, 40). This type of law in Alabama public schools was not the first of its kind. Prior to statute 6-11-20.1, Alabama passed law 16-1-20 authorizing one minute of silence in public schools for meditation. After the authorization of statute 16-1-20.1 came 16-1-20.2, which allowed teachers to lead “willing students” in a prayer (Stevens, 40).

In cases having to do with constitutionality, the issue of the separation of church and state arises with marked frequency. This battle, which has raged since the nation?s founding, touches the very heart of the United States public, and pits two of the country's most important influences of public opinion against one another. Although some material containing religious content has found its way into many of the nation's public schools, its inclusion stems from its contextual and historical importance, which is heavily supported by material evidence and documentation. It often results from a teacher?s own decision, rather than from a decision handed down from above by a higher power. The proposal of the Dover Area School District to

Most people don’t know where it is. Most people have never seen it. Most people have never even heard of it. Despite this, the William B. Travis Building in Austin, Texas is where American history is made. Correction, this is where the events and memories of the present and near past get wedged into America’s long-term cultural memory or slip into oblivion. Since Texas buys or distributes 48 million textbooks annually, educational publishers tailor their products to fit the standards adopted by the Lone Star State. This makes the Texas state board of education, which is housed in the William B. Travis Building, the most influential state board of education in America. Every year this board draws national attention when it meets to adopt or reject proposed changes to the social studies curriculum, which are guidelines that will affect children across America for the next 10 years. In 2010, the most fiercely debated proposal was bringing Christianity into the coverage of American history. More specifically bringing the Christian “truth” about America’s founding into public schools. However, this debate has been going on since the early nineteenth century. People have always questioned how to reconcile the idea of America as a Christian nation with that of America as a beacon for religious freedom. To answer this question for ourselves, we must understand religious life in colonial America, religion in the Constitution and the debate surrounding Jefferson’s “Wall of Separation”

In 1947, the Supreme Court ruled 5 to 4 in favor of the defendant in a case named Everson v Board of Education. In this case, the Majority opinion laid out an interpretation of the Establishment Clause in the First Amendment of the Constitution for the first time in regards to how it should be applied. As such, it would set the precedence for the way that the Supreme Court would look at the First Amendment even until today. Although in this particular instance, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of religion and schools, this new definition of the First Amendment would go on to be used against religion in the American public school system for years to come until it would be almost entirely eradicated from public schools today. While many scholars have written on this case and have taken a stand on whether or not the interpretation is poor or good, they all agree on the impact that it had on Supreme Court decision’s moving forward.

Since the Warren court found that Religion in public schools broke a clause in the First Amendment, the Supreme court decided that schools that are based on a religious system were to stop. Many thought that this landmark decision was going to damage their freedom of religion but it actually kept their freedom safe. This decision also “started the end of Protestant domination of Public Education” (Battle pg. 217)

Since the early 20th century many lawsuits have been brought forth challenging mandatory prayer and bible readings in schools, arguing that students should not be forced to practice any religion other than their own. Since then, the Supreme Court has ruled repeatedly that, “prayer in schools, Bible readings, and other such religious practices are violations of the First Amendment (Find Law)”. The decisions of the Supreme Court stand as huge “milestones between federalism and states ' rights (Find Law)”.

It has been over a long time since the U.S. Incomparable Court restricted petition in state funded schools in the now scandalous case Engle v. Vitale. (Joined States Courts, n.d., para. 4). By decision that school-supported nondenominational supplication in government funded schools disregarded the First Amendment of the Constitution, the training ended up noticeably impermissible in every single state funded school all through the nation. In the year following Engle v. Vitale, the Supreme Court heard a comparable case in Pennsylvania which challenged school-supported book of scriptures perusing and recitation of the Lord's

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.

Bible verses are seen on many of today’s products. Everything from bracelets to coffee mugs have these great words displayed on them and are being sold at a very high rate. As a Christian, it is very encouraging to see these products fly off the shelves as they are. It is even more encouraging to see so many high schools use bible verses on their teams or clubs banners. This is an opportunity for the word to be spread to people who may not be around the church setting very often. Despite the advantages, the use of verses on banners has been criticized. People are saying this is an attempt by the school to promote religion and these people are trying to get the school to remove these verses. Many schools are complying with this request, others are on the fence. I believe students should be allowed to put whatever they would like on banners they create.

In this time and generation, the Bible should be taught in public schools. If we ever needed God it is right now; look at the children; they are lost. When God formed humans, he put a biological trait in humans for us to depend on him for everything. According to a 2013 study published in the Peabody Journal of Education, religious schools do better than public or charter schools because of way children develop psychologically.(Scribner). The Bible will help students in everyday life by gaining knowledge that will benefit into adulthood. The Bible also will teach them a bit more about themselves and how to stay out of trouble.

How does that fit in with putting the Bible back into Schools? Have you ever read the Pledge of Allegiance, or looked at our National Motto? The Pledge of Allegiance has the words "one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." Our National motto is “In God We Trust.” According to InPlainSite.org the Supreme Court opens each session every day with the words "God save the United States and this Honorable Court." We live in such a double standard! We are a “melting pot” with several different religions within our borders, but the foundation of the country is based on Biblical Christian principles that can be seen in everyday life. We as the American people say “In God We Trust” yet we want him out of the schools, out of politics, and out of our lives. This is not fair to those who have died for this country, and to those who founded it.

Prayer plays such a big role in many people’s lives. It happens each and every day and multiple times throughout the day. Even though it can play a huge role in someone’s life, it cannot be practiced in schools. Prayer in school has been a very controversial topic for many years. According to Steven K. Green, “On June 25, 1962, the United States Supreme Court decided in Engel v. Vitale that a prayer approved by the New York Board of Regents for use in schools violated the First Amendment by constituting an establishment of religion (Green 1).” It has since then been taken out of school preventing teachers to preach or teach about religion.

The Bible is known single-handedly as the champion of the best-selling books the world has ever known. It is the holy and sacred text known to all the world, but specifically to those who believe in the Christian faith predominantly, but other religions also look to the Bible as a source of hope, strength, truth and history. The Bible was originally written in Greek and Hebrew, but over time has been translated into many of the world’s languages to accommodate those who believe in the Bible’s power but cannot read or understand Hebrew or Greek. People all over the world have bought this religious text, but there are still many countries in the world where the Bible is banned. Those found to have possession of this text can be in danger