Think It My Way

Prayer in public schools is becoming a great controversy in the United States. In 1962, the Supreme Court ruled that there was no place for prayer in public education. The court rulings did not “remove prayer from school,” but the court took away “government-sponsored worship.” School employees, as government workers, should not be able to influence students in religion.

According to the Anti-Defamation League, religious activities cannot be supervised or participated in by school employees. “Promotion and endorsement” of religious activity by a school official is unconstitutional. Students have the right to engage in religious activities with other students when they have free time as long as they are not disrespectful or disruptive. Also, the League says that the Supreme Court does not allow a moment of silence “which students could use for silent prayer or meditation” because it was “enacted” to advance religion (Anti-Defamation League).

The group, Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, believe that public schools should “respect the beliefs of everyone and protect parental rights.” By banning teacher-initiated prayer, public schools cannot sponsor religious worship, leaving “decisions about religion” to the family. The Supreme Court did ban prayer in public schools out of animosity to religion, but they ruled that prayer showed “examples of unconstitutional government interference with religion,” which violates the First Amendment (American United for Separation of Church and State).

Although prayer is not being banned completely, the removal of teacher-initiated prayer will end all conflicts with this issue. Because of the violation of the First Amendment to the Constitution, which is the law of our land, prayers led by government officials should not be allowed.