...Prayer in School Katrina, Anthony, and Tab October 5, 2011 BCOM/275 Prayer in School Throughout our society, prayer in school has become extinct. Prayer is a form of communication or a way of talking to God or other saints (Richert, N.D.). Although prayer in school may focus on religion, violate the first amendment, and separation of church and state, there are both advantages and disadvantages of prayer in our schools. Being that we are a diverse society and everyone has his or her own personal opinion on prayer in our schools; it still remains one of the most controversial issues today. The decision to take prayer out of public schools has become one of the most controversial issues throughout our society. The argument of whether or not prayer should be allowed in public schools is still misunderstood. When determining whether or not prayer should be allowed in public schools, it is important to consider both the advantages and disadvantages. In our society, 90% of America’s youngsters attend public schools. The children that attend public schools come from homes that espouse a variety of religious and philosophical beliefs (www.au.org). The pros and cons of prayer in public schools are not a cut and dry issue. There are many avenues to this matter. Pros arguments that have been expressed by people that approve of prayer in schools argue to banish prayer takes away the student’s freedom and molds them to be like non-religious students (www.religioninschools...
Words: 2048 - Pages: 9
...School Prayer The issue of school prayer has invoked great controversy in our society. Some people feel that school prayer should be brought back into schools and practiced as part of the education process. The Supreme Court has continually denied allowing prayer to seep into the public school systems. Through years of controversy, many states started to adopt the “moment of silence” which was an attempt to bring back prayer in our schools. However, the school officials cannot suggest or have the kids pray, even though its true aim is clear, to encourage students to pray. Because of the “moment of silence,” there has finally been a neutral act to encourage prayer. There is a one sided claim that a mandated moment of silence in public classrooms amounts to an unconstitutional attempt to establish religion. The “moment of silence” is Constitutional, and a great way to encourage prayer for our students. Rufus Goodwin stated, “Praying, like poetry, is an activity that activates the human being.” In other words, prayer is a personal experience and intimate connection with our Father. People pray for several reasons such as personal benefit or for the sake of others. Prayers can consist of requesting guidance and assistance, confessing sins, or to express one’s thoughts and emotions (Goodwin R.). Why wouldn’t this intimate act with our Creator be an important part of the student’s day? Moments of silence often last one minute, but other amounts of time may be chosen. Sometimes...
Words: 1621 - Pages: 7
...Prayer In School Kevin Magilligan Grand Canyon Univ Prayer In Schools The United States was founded on freedom. One of those freedoms is the Freedom of Religion. Our forefathers knew that there had to be a separation of church and state. This allowed citizens of the US to practice any religion they may chose and the government would not interfere. A plethora of court cases have ruled that having prayer in school is unconstitutional. While having prayer in school that is not sponsored by the administration is constitutional. Groups such as Moms in Prayer are for having prayer in schools. While the American Civil Liberties Union are against having prayers in schools. "To secure the people's right to acknowledge God according to the dictates of conscience: Neither the United States nor any State shall establish any official religion, but the people's right to pray and to recognize their religious beliefs, heritage, and traditions on public property, including schools, shall not be infringed. The United States and the States shall not compose school prayers, not require any person to join in prayer or other religious activity." Congressman Ernest Istook (R-OK). Prayer in school is a debate that has been going on since the 1960’s with the landmark case of Engle V Vitale. The case found that a school wide solicited prayer recited by the students was unconstitutional. This ruling led to other litigation where school sponsored prayer was not allowed, such as during sporting...
Words: 1671 - Pages: 7
...PRAYER AND THE 1 Prayer and the School Setting PHI 200 Instructor Lisa Linkin May 11, 2012 Prayer and the School Setting Many students throughout the world carry on their daily tasks of going to school. They come home or to their dorms from the excessive day of learning and they may say a prayer or they may not. For the ones that do say a prayer, they may feel as if the prayer would have been better said during school at the time of a “stressful situation or test”. This was not the case because prayer is being banned from school. This topic has been a very hot one from the time of the first person speaking out against having prayer in the school setting even until now showing no signs of letting up. Why is it so bothersome? It stands to reason that the reason prayer in the school setting is such a rampant subject is because those on both sides of the situation have very strong and valid arguments. Every time there seems to be a sound solution, there is something else that challenges the peace the solution seemingly creates. When it comes to the issue of prayer being appropriate for the school setting there are those that say that it is not appropriate, those that agree that it is, and those willing to look for solutions to pacify both sides. To even come close to beginning to identify whether prayer is appropriate for school or not one must understand exactly what both these...
Words: 2943 - Pages: 12
...If God is allowed everywhere on earth, then what makes schools different? Why should those who wish to pray be deprived the right? There are smoking areas in schools where people can stand and smoke, so why not make a prayer room in schools and colleges for those folks who desire to pray. Prayer is a good guide for students and it can make them feel great while they are getting educated in schools and they can make better decisions throughout the year. Prayer in school must be allowed in order to expose the youth of upcoming generations the diversity of different religious beliefs, thereby increasing cultural tolerance. Prayer is very significant for all the students and when learners start praying in school it can prepare them for being more...
Words: 1594 - Pages: 7
...Why is prayer for student/athletes a problem in this world? Is it because some people have different beliefs? For some people, having prayer is not a big problem, but to others, they would rather have them not bring religion into a school. The debate began in 1960 and centers on the principle/that is the separation of church and state. There is a total of six cases on prayer in school: 1948, McCollum v. Board of Education District 71; 1962, Engel v. Vitale; 1963, Abington School District v. Schemmp; 1985, Wallace v. Jaffree; 1992, Lee v. Weisman; 199, Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe Many of those against prayer in school declare it is unconstitutional and violates the “separation of church and state.” Even though the clause is not found in the United States Constitution, it is an accepted principle of American law. Others contend that public schools...
Words: 622 - Pages: 3
...public school. While in kindergarten, he was read a story about a man who loved snowflakes more than anything. Steven (being raised in a strong Christian home) proceeded to raise his hand and say “He can’t love snowflakes more than God.” That statement alone caused a ruckus among the kindergarteners and he was then sent to the office. Steven could not wrap his five-year-old head around the concept that what he had said was wrong. Prayer and religion have been marginalized within the public-school system and deserves to be revisited. Steven, like many other students, was reprimanded for vocalizing his opinion on God. Since 1962, the court case Engle v. Vitale, all prayer including nondenominational prayer was not allowed in any public schooling system (Chicago-Kent College of Law at Illinois Tech). This court ruling was the precedent to many rulings like it. In the 1980 case, Stone v. Graham, they found that posting the ten commandments in school as unconstitutional (Chicago-Kent College of Law at Illinois Tech). Then in Wallace v. Jaffree, 1985, it was found unconstitutional for statue or staff to encourage prayer (Chicago-Kent College of Law at Illinois Tech). This...
Words: 533 - Pages: 3
...Independence it states that we need to have prayer. There are many reasons that we why prayer should be back in schools, as the Declaration of Independence states that "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by God with certain unalienable rights..." (10 reason). ¨Indeed, it speaks of God, creations, God-given moral rights, the providence of God, and a final Day of Judgment - all of which are religious teachings. Indeed, the Supreme Court affirmed (Zorach, 1952) that We are a religious people whose institutions presuppose a Supreme Being. And school prayer has been an important part of...
Words: 1019 - Pages: 5
...there have been heated debates over whether prayer should be allowed in a school setting? Every time the fires of the argument is rekindled, it ends in a stalemate, and is a topic that campaigning politicians tend to err away from. My aim is to stand stalwartly in favor of personal prayer being allowed for the individual and to point out where my beliefs stem from. Prayer should be allowed in schools because it is constitutional, acknowledges our religious heritage, and instills moral values. “The history of prayer in public school is a story of legal interpretation. The relationship between religion and government in the United States is governed by the First Amendment to the Constitution, which both...
Words: 1136 - Pages: 5
...Christiana Uzoho English 101 (1109) Professor Long Word count ( ) May 5, 2014 Essay 3 The Important of Prayer in every School Whenever I remember prayer, what come to my mind is how merciful our God is to everyone in this world, no matter the kind of sin we commit the Lord forgives, and also bless us. It is so painful that the children of God have been denied the opportunity to pray, worships, and serve their God in the public schools. Nobody remember again that something make us to be in existence as human beings today. Prayer in school is to shape good citizens by leaving a moral life, despite the kind of religion you are into there should be a way you serve your master, the creator of our existence. The reason we need prayer in school, immorality of the youths, and prayer can abolish the immoral life of our youths today. The reason we need pray in school is serve our God, to make him our Lord and personal savoir. Despite the kind region we find ourselves, it shouldn’t be hinders for us to pray. Prayers in school bring success to students, teachers, and the institution itself because people will them as serious students, school where a person goes for success. The reputation of the school will be prayer is the key. It prevents us from getting into troubles. Been a successful student involves having God as the leader of everything one do, for instance, in my first year in college my parents advised me that in everything I do in life, and in all my education let God be...
Words: 812 - Pages: 4
...Running Head: IMPORTANCE OF SCHOOL PRAYER AT ECE INSTITUTIONS. The importance of the school prayer at early childhood education institutions. Introduction Prayers in institution are very essential for nurturing young kids, and it is also a medium conveying moral values to the students. Various organizations have morning assemblies where prayers are conducted before classes assume, by having prayers, critical moral is installed in the pupils, and it sticks in the minds as it becomes a habit. (Bhavya, 2014). On the other hand, prayers create a pious condition that enables the student to gain important values in life such as discipline and humility. Therefore; the students realize the importance of ethical values in schools. Prayers also encourage students to believe in the values created by the school and afterward implement them accordingly (Bhavya, 2014). It is also assumed that teachers participating in social education of the young kids should hold a cultural model that will guide their deeds and actions. In the same regard, the cultural patterns of the community members and the society influence the behavior of kids in trying to understand the world and the actions in it (Bhavya, 2014) Very many governments across the world are based on religious principals. For in instance in United States, the declaration of independence cites “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, and that God endows them with certain unalienable rights…” ...
Words: 407 - Pages: 2
...America’s Decline: Banning Prayer in Public Schools Raymond Ballou PHI 200 Instructor: Michelle Loudermilk 3/31/12 America’s Decline: Banning Prayer in Public Schools A very controversial widespread issue today is the right to have volunteer prayer in public schools. This issue has been constantly debated for years whether prayer in public schools should be permitted. For more than 200 years, public schools were allowed voluntary prayer. Our forefathers built our nation on Christian values. The first English settlers came to America for the right to freedom and to worship God in their own way. In Colonial America, most schools were run by the churches. The first settlers in America felt that it was important that children learned to read so that they could read their Bibles. Prayer has been a part of our culture as long as there have been public schools; this helped the students develop morals and learn right from wrong. School prayer was a natural part of the settler’s school life. There is a casual relationship between taking prayer out of our schools and the downfall of our society today. The basic dispute over this issue is that it violates The First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States and the separation of church and state. The First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States gives every individual the same rights. One right is the constitutional protection for the free exercise of religion. The second right is prohibition of the establishment...
Words: 2610 - Pages: 11
...K., 2011.) Argument: Should prayer be allowed in school? For prayer in schools – * “As the First Amendment states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." To prohibit school prayer is to prohibit the free exercise of one's religion. Thus, not only is eliminating prayer from public schools wrong, it is also unconstitutional. Moral and legal reasons demonstrate that prayer in public school should, therefore, be allowed” (Mosser, K.,2010). * There has never been any report that allowing prayer in school is physically or spiritually harmful to a child in any way. * Prayer teaches reflection and patience. * Therefore, it is our constitutional right to pray in schools and with prayer not being harmful it can actually teach a child reflection and patience which can help control behavior issues. Against prayer in schools – * People can tend to feel that with prayer religion is pushed upon them against their own beliefs and goes against their constitutional right. * There are too many different religions to have a specific religion class. * There are people who do not believe in a God at all. * Therefore, to place prayer in school would push religious prayer on someone who does not believe in the same thing or does not believe in a God at all is against their constitutional right as well. My personal thoughts - Eliminating prayer and other things the United States...
Words: 435 - Pages: 2
...Should prayer be allowed in schools? Few issues in American open life cause more debate than religion and state funded training. Sadly, this subject is very frequently covered in disarray and falsehood. While examining this matter, it's critical to remember some fundamental truths. Ninety percent of America's youths go to government funded schools. These understudies originate from homes that uphold an assortment of religious and philosophical convictions. Given the mind blowing differences of American culture, it's critical that our state funded schools regard the convictions of everybody and secure parental rights. The schools can or can't be best to do this by supporting or not supporting religious love. This Could standard guarantees that America's government funded schools are inviting to all youngsters and leaves choices about religion where they have a place with the gang. First of all, from what I discovered religion is private and schools are public, the two can't be one without a conflict. there is no issue with begging at the suitable times, however school actualized solicitation to God is illicit. A run of the mill confused...
Words: 1448 - Pages: 6
...Prayer Allowed In School Recently there was an incident in New York, where a student closed her middle school ceremony in prayer. They are deciding if it is a violation of the First Amendment even if it was given by a student (Haynes). There was another problem in Washington when a Football coach Joe Kennedy prayed with his players after a football game, he was put on a paid administrative leave because the school district didn't want to be seen as endorsing religion(Fox News). It has been a big problem in our American Society, causing a lot of problems in schools like teachers get fired and officers trying to settle ceremonies after surprise prayers and some people believe it is restricting their faith and belief. If we include the “Prayer Amendment” (Amendment 28) it will solve the problems in the school. The “Prayer Amendment”, will specifically permit prayer during school meetings and during school hours without getting in trouble....
Words: 616 - Pages: 3
