Prayer In School

Rough Draft / Thesis

Even though public schools today are without school prayer, most schools have replaced prayer, with a "Silent moment of reflection." Also, the assumption if there is a God or not is a big question as well. I think prayer should be re-instated into schools, because children should be able to express religion freely. I also feel that lack of discipline; youth pregnancy, dropouts, and violence in schools are other issues that can be more controllable if there were religious classes and school prayer.

Public schools exist to educate not to proselytize. There are many people that believe prayer doesn't belong in the schools, because it violates the separation of church and state. What does the separation of church and state say? Actually the First Amendment reads congress shall make no law respecting an establishing of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." The statement about a wall of separation between church and state was made in a letter on January 1, 1802, by Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson wanted to make it clear to Danbury that the separation was to be that government would not establish a national religion or dictate to men how to worship God.

Whether or not to have prayer in schools has been discussed since the early 20th century. However, citing separation of church and state in the first Amendment and fourteenth amendment were successful in getting prayer banned through the judicial system.

During the time I attend school thee was not an issue whether we started our day with a prayer. In February 2002 the U.S. Supreme Court left school officials and lawyers puzzled about the law governing students leading prayer voluntary. Although students are free to pray on their on time or with friends, the religion liberty is protected by Constitution (Stevens, Justice in Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe).

American Atheists are a group of people that don't believe in God. They hold a big voice in removing prayer out of school. They also took part in removing the Pledge of Allegiance from schools as well. I think everyone should have their on opinion but, it should not be omitted for schools totally.

Conclusion

I think not having prayer in schools is a big reason why there is violence in the schools. Schools shooting, dropouts, and teen and adolescents sexual activities. If the students were aware on the Laws of God and what he expects of his children. Our public schools would be a better place for our children to learn.

Source:

www.atheists.org

www.noapathy.org

Without Prayer in Public Schools

I. What happen to Prayer in Public Schools

A. Separation of church and state

1. Taking prayer out of public schools

2. FFRF (Freedom From Religion Foundation)

B. Atheism

1. What is Atheism

II. The Pledge Allegiance

A. One nation under God

III. Cause and Effects

A. School violence

1. School shootings

2. Teachers arrested

B. Adolescents and Teen pregnancy

1. Pregnancy rate

IV. Re-instating Prayer back into Public schools

A. Moment of Silence

B. The Laws of God

V. Conclusion

Final Draft

Without Prayer in School

Even though public schools today are without school prayer, most schools have replaced

Prayer, with a "Silent moment of reflection." Although, the statement "Separation of

Church and State" is nowhere to be found in the U.S. Constitution, This statement has

managed to take prayer out of public schools. Also, the assumption if there is a God or

not is a big question as well. I think prayer should be re-instated into schools, because

children should be able to express religion freely. I also feel that lack of discipline; youth

pregnancy, dropouts, and violence in schools are other issues that can be more

controllable if there were religious classes and school prayer.

Public schools exist to educate, not to proselytize. Children in public schools are captive audience; making prayer an official part of the school day is coercive and invasive. What five, eight, or ten year old could view prayers recited as part of class routine as "voluntary"? Religion is private, and schools are public, so it is appropriate that the two should not mix. To introduce religion in our public schools builds walls between children who may not have been aware of religion differences before (Brochure produced by the Freedom From Religion Foundation).

Whether or not to have prayer in schools have been discussed since the early twentieth Century. However, citing