Think It My Way

Because the First Amendment protects religious activity of individuals, the U.S. Department of Education says that students can read their Bible or other scriptures, say a prayer before meals, and study religious materials with other students during a non-teaching time. Students cannot be denied their religious privileges that are protected under the Constitution. Although individual students are allowed to practice religion at school, the school officials are not allowed to coerce students into participating in religious activities (U.S. Department of Education). As long as the students are not being disruptive or disrespectful, prayer, as well as any other religious activity, cannot be banned because of the rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

James Skillen, a writer for the Center for Public Justice, believes that the First Amendment does not give the government or any citizen the power to ban prayer or religion from public schools. All citizens have the choice whether to practice religion or not, so prayer in school is no exception. The Center for Public Justice also believes that families should be able to choose different schools to meet their “differing educational needs (Center for Public Justice).” Opening different schools would give many families a different option, yet that is why we have private schools.

Even with this evidence, the debate about prayer in school will forever continue. For as long as the citizens of the United States are following the Constitution, prayer should be allowed in public schools.