Do you think that prayer should be in the schools?
369208
Who's prayer? It is my understanding Muslims must pray five times a day. What about the Buddhists, Hindu or Sikhs faith traditions? In the United States the first amendment to the constitution states that we as a country will not dictate anyone else's religious beliefs. It was so important to the founding fathers it's right there up front. \n\nYes, a lot of them where Christian, and they were wise enough to stay out of a faith based governance. Even Jesus said leave what is to Cesar leave to Cesar when asked about law issues. \n\nI would like to suggest that teaching right from wrong can be done without any faith based remarks. Break social rules, you suffer consequences. It's simple and every child learns it.
665073
I think that Kathryn is right in that if parents want their children to have a religious education, they should have that right in a private school.  After all, if it's okay to homeschool kids, why can't you have schools that teach the same values there?  It's not state supported, and the parents pay for the privelage.  Of course, it's harder on poor students, but I don't see too much way around that.\n\nPublic schools, however, should not be a place for teaching religion, unless perhaps as a neutral 'World Religions' class.  This is because we want to promote the idea that everyone has the right to their own personal beliefs.  Furthermore, if one specific religion is taught in a public school, the state is promoting that one over any other - not only through speach, but also with money.  By promoting one, it is essentially repressing the others, possibly even promoting prejudice towards the followers of that religion.  Schools should not repress religion - it should be okay to write a paper on a religion topic if you should so choose and have it treated as any other, for example - but neither should it be promoted.  \n\nNon-believing, i.e. atheism, is not neutral.  Choosing to definitively NOT believe in God is just as much a personal, unprovable belief as definitively choosing TO believe in God.  Teaching atheism is therefore also unacceptable.  Schools should try to avoid the topic entirely, and leave it to the private sphere.
740246
it means that, while your child can have the "right" to pray quietly in school, the school doesnt have the "right" to lead group prayer and subject an unwilling child to the group pressure to participate or be ostracized.
463481
Taking mandatory prayer out of the schools is a good thing. (No, I'm not a Satanic worshiper). The reason being is because there are so many different cultures in America, along with so many different religions. I wouldn't want my children "forced" to say a prayer in any religion. \n\nAt my High School, every morning, the FCA and teens from different churches would meet together at the flagpoles, hold hands around it and say a prayer. There was never anyone who tried to "ban" this activity because they were not imposing their religious belief on others. \nReligion will never fully be removed from the lives of children. Most of History tells a great deal about different religions...the rise and falls of. \n\nHowever, I do believe it is wrong to take "one nation under God" out of the pledge of allegiance. They already have it that a kid doesn't have to say that line if they, or their parents do not believe in God. \n\nIf a person wants their child to be raised in a religious environment, then their parents should send them to a private school based on their religion. In the mean time, pulic schools need to stay unbiased in religion because so many different religions attend public school. \n\nOh, and no, I don't believe Satan has won. He will never win. He is no God. He is a fallen angel, but like us, he is still a creation of God. He's like a little boy at the Mall who throws a fit because his mother won't buy him a piece of candy. He gets punished, but still sulks in the corner...mad now because he didn't get his way and that he was punished. This is how I view Satan. \n\nI hope I have answered your question. Best wishes.
211253
As long as all types of religions prayers are used (obviously if there is no-one from a certain religion, that prayer is not needed), then yeah, why not.
25188
I believe one of the "values" of prayer is that it provides a measure of comfort to people.  If it gives you comfort to pray for the deceased, then it can't be wrong.
1117780
Public school is not the place for God & religion to be taught or even presented.  How would the decision be made regarding exactly which religion should be presented?  It would be impossible to represent every religion in our country in our schools.  If you are going to do that, it would only be fair to represent athiests as well.  Think of it this way, would a Catholic family be happy if their childred are being taught Jewish beliefs and vice-versa?\n\nThere are alternatives for people who choose to have their children educated in a religious setting.  If that is something that is important to people they should use those options as opposed to trying to force their beliefs on people who do not share them.
913064
Nothing is too big or too small for God, right? So please pray that I do well in my school exams next week! That would be so wonderful! I'll pray to, but it's always nice to know someone else is also praying! If there is ever anything (big or small) I can pray for you about, then I'd be more than happy to! Just let me know! God bless you too!
194118
NO!! They have taken God out of schools ( I wish they hadn't). Government needs to leave the statement "In God We Trust" alone. We all need one thing that we can trust in. God is the best thing for that. If we don't have God then we might as well not be here.
1173274
In the 1940's all schools had morning prayers.\n\nAt that time a black pewrson could not pee in a gas station or enter many restaurants, schools, and other places.\n\nWas the morals better then with all of the Christian prayers?
1024448
just want to chime in and say i agree with you 100 percent.  it should not be taught in public schools.  leave that for bible school in the evenings or on the weekends.
757659
Yes.  Asking children to profess allegiance to a deity they may not believe in is overstepping the bounds of separation of church and state.\n \nNo.  Not on government property.  Privately owned property is completely acceptable.  A private homeowner can litter the front lawn with 1,000 crosses if they'd like.\n\nThey can pray privately to themselves and no one can stop them from doing so, but the state cannot mandate, endorse, promote or even allow any kind of organized or teacher-led prayer.\n\nNot SOLELY on religious belief, no.  As Justice O'Connor once said (to paraphrase) "we are not in the business of legislating based on morality alone."\n\nI'm an atheist, I don't think it would be an issue.\n\nComplete separation.  No organized prayer, no government endorsed prayer of any kind (this of course cannot stop individuals from praying to themselves).
595934
I think prayer should not be forbidden, but it should not be forced.  If a group of children wish to conduct their own voluntary prayer meeting at lunch time or play time, then I think that should be allowed.  Muslim students should be allowed to go to a private place to conduct their required prayers.  But a whole classroom of students should not be led in prayer by the teacher, or anything like that.  This can not be done fairly.  There are Jewish students who would never accept praying in the name of Jesus, and there are Christian students who would never accept NOT praying in the name of Jesus.  There are atheists who do not accept praying at all.  All religious stances must be respected in a public school setting.
1115073
A lot of people would have to hear them recite the Lord's prayer.\n\n\nReally, it all comes down to this:\n\nPublic schools are government funded organizations, 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....".\n\nIt's not saying you CAN'T say the Lord's Prayer in school, just that the school staff or faculty cannot require or lead the school as a whole in the recitation of the Lord's prayer.
366145
I think the students and teachers that want pray should be allowed to but those who don't shouldn't feel pressured.
352549
I found you some websites to read up on.\nMaybie you could go to some christian/catholic schools where they still have prayer and ask if you could interview students or teachers on how prayer has effected them at school.
743752
The previous answers are either, vague or incorrect. The bottom line on current judicial thinking is as follows:\n\nPer the "Establishment Clause," it is unlawful for schools to initiate any form of prayer in schools or at school events, such as graduations or sporting events, etc.\n\nPer the "Free Exercise Clause," students are free to pray at school, and organize non-faculty-led prayer or Bible study groups. They may even request the use of school facilities for these meetings, as the Supreme Court has ruled that these groups have as legitimate a claim as any other student organization like Junior Achievement or the Chess Club.\n\nI hope this helps