The Importance Of Prayer In Public Schools

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

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

Can you imagine yourself having to start your daily school routine with a prayer? A couple of years ago, to be exactly in November 1951 there was a high increase in juvenile crime. It was known that it was caused by the Korean War. During that time the New York Board of Regents became the first one to adopt a prayer in public schools (Dierenfield 67). In behalf of the violence, the prayer was established because “...the regents believed that such a program would ensure that school children would acquire ‘respect for lawful authority and obedience to law’ ”(Dierenfield 67). The prayer consisted of the following words, “Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers, and our country”

In conclusion, prayer should be allowed in public schools because it would bring students together, teach the students the right and wrong amongst their peers, and decline the reliance on things like drugs, sex, and alcohol. Students all round the globe should unite as one and get prayer back in school because it teaches the children to be united as

Even though public schools in the United States are without school prayer most schools have replaced prayer with what Hope High School and other surrounding schools called the “Moment of Silence.” Prayer should be put back into every public school. People make prayer sounds as if it is just a bad thing, if so why are there so many people for prayer in schools? Prayer should have never been removed from public schools systems in the first place and the main reason is of The Equal Access Act of 1984. The act clearly states that any federally funded public school is required to let religious meetings if clubs that are not related to the curriculum is allowed. There are some religious groups but they don't get the same privileges that non religious

The Supreme court has ruled that the government cannot have anything to do with prayer in public school. The government cannot tell students when to pray. The government cannot tell students what to pray. The government cannot tell students that they should pray. The government cannot tell students that prayer is better that no prayer. The most quoted argument against prayer in school is that of “separation of church and state” this was actually in a letter that Thomas Jefferson had written in 1802,when he received a letter from Danbury Baptist Association of Connecticut regarding religious freedoms. Students may conduct a group religious clubs, and “see you at the pole” gatherings before school. If a school has a “moment of silence” or other quiets periods during the school day, students can pray silently, or not pray at all. Teachers can neither encourage nor discourage students from praying during such time periods. If God is allowed everywhere on earth, then what makes schools different? Why should those who wish to pray be deprived the

School is not the same as when I was growing up. We prayed, we said our pledge of allegiance and most of all God was talked about freely in schools. Times have changed. A lot of people do not agree with prayer in the school system. People give a lot of different reasons on why they do not agree such as respecting everyone’s culture and beliefs. I do not agree with totally removing prayer from the school. I believe there is a way to respect every culture and still have prayer in our schools.

Ever since prayer was eradicated from the public school system, the quality of education has shown a constant statistical deterioration. Society presumes that the supernatural is nonexistent and that reality must be a dentist side based solely on man’s interpretation. By reentering prayer into school, it would acknowledge the presence of something higher than man. By granting prayer in school, a crucial standard is set. It shows students that they are more than just a clump of random cells aimlessly wandering the earth. Prayer is an action that trumpets that life is more than success. Prayer is heavily opposed because it serves as an antithesis to the beliefs of those who create the policies for the public school system (Creation Today). An underlying purpose of public education is to frame honorable civilians. The majority of the American people are

Religious freedom is one of the many freedoms our great nation has worked so hard to protect. During the early 1700’s many different states  made laws only allowing  people of certain religions or certain beliefs  able to hold a state office causing much contention and oppression. Thomas Jefferson tried to draft a bill that guaranteed all  citizens of any religion or no religion, legal equality in the state but his attempts failed. He stated “The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket or breaks my leg."(Levinson, 2012, para.24). James Madison, while Thomas Jefferson was one of  his good friends (Mansfield,1995), commenced the First Amendment to the constitution because he did not want congress authorizing a “National” religion that would cause conflict with the many different religious denominations (Evans, 1995). The First Amendment of the constitution was supposed to clarify this issue, by the separation of church and state. School prayer is a very controversial topic because it has to do with the government dealing with one 's religious beliefs and tolerance. On the other hand though, what happens when a Senior at graduation gets up and says a prayer or implies something about his/her belief in God? Where does her Freedom of Speech come in?  Everyone is suppose to

Today, in America, there still is the controversy about prayer in public schools. Many parents and supporters of prayer, believed that schools and school districts that participate in prayers tend to have students that are less prongs to get into trouble in school and trouble with the law. Most parents believe if we had prayer in schools, we would have less problems with gangs, less violence in school, bullying, sexting, better grades, and less drop-outs. They believe that students do not want others to see them praying and turn around and get into trouble. This action will be considered as a double standard. Even though many say that we cannot pray in schools, the courts also say that public schools cannot interfere with students’ rights

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.

For many years, students in public education were familiar with prayer in school. However, after this practice was challenged by parents in New York State, the Supreme Court ruled on June 26, 1962 that government-endorsed prayer in public schools is unconstitutional. Many Americans still disagree with this decision and believe in the importance of prayer in schools and that is the constitutional right of every American. Some of the arguments in favor of prayer in public schools are that it supports religious freedom in the United States, it acknowledges America’s heritage, and it offers benefits to all of society.

Bible reading and prayer time in American public schools have been controversial for decades. From the 1962 case Abington v. Schempp (which ruled mandatory Bible reading unconstitutional) to Santa Fe v. Doe in 2000 (which struck down student-led prayers before school football games), religious activities at school have decreased dramatically. Although I would welcome the return of Bible reading and prayer to public schools, I think limits should be put on these activities to respect other students’ First Amendment rights.

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.

Prayer in public schools has been a controversial issue in our country for a very long time.  According to the First Amendment, the government shall not establish any official religion. Therefore, as long as the government doesn't make it mandatory for the students to pray, they should be allowed to at least have that choice. One minute set aside for a student to either have a moment of silence or to have their own prayer isn't hurting anyone, as long as students are not forced to pray. By taking away that right, it is violating their rights as American citizens and their right to have freedom of religion.