Prayer in public schools has been a subject of controversy ever since the Supreme Court ruled in 1962 that "any kind of prayer, composed by public school districts, even non-denominational, is unconstitutional government sponsorship of religion" (U.S. Supreme Court Decisions on Separation of Church and State web site). The next year the Court found that "Bible reading over the school intercom was unconstitutional" because it forced a child "to participate in Bible reading and prayer." The Court banned posting the 10 Commandments in school in 1980 and ruled in 1985 that a moment of silence in school, if done to encourage prayer, was unconstitutional (Answers.com). All these decisions are based on the U.S. Constitution which bars the State from sponsoring any particular religion: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech ... " (The U.S. Constitution Online).
The teachers and administrators in public schools are considered representatives of the State, which is why they cannot promote religion or prayer in school. However, the Constitution only bars the State and its agents from promoting prayer. It says nothing about what the students may or may not do on their own. Neither the Supreme Court, nor the Constitution has said that a student may not bring a Bible to school, for example, carry it around and read it between classes. Yet, teachers and administrators have prohibited students from bringing a Bible to school. This is a gross misinterpretation of what the Court and the Constitution have ruled. "It is true, unfortunately, that there have been a few overly zealous school administrators who have gone too far and tried to do more than the courts have authorized" (Church/State Separation website). It is not against the law for students to hold hands in a circle and pray together before a football...
If students want to say grace at the table in the school lunch room before a meal, that should be their choice -- as long as teachers and staff have nothing to do with it. When the school makes it against the rules to do these things, they are "prohibiting the free exercise" of religion which is guaranteed in the Constitution. Besides, when you think about it, as long as you aren't bothering anybody else, it should be your own business whether you pray of not -- not the school's.
Ever since they tried to take God out of the schools, the schools have got worse and worse. Violence, drug and alcohol use, and irresponsible sex have increased. The ACLU comments that "some ... blame the 1962 decision, Engel v. Vitale, banning official prayer from public schools, for everything from low SAT scores to high teenage pregnancy rates. But many educators and other experts tell us that these problems flow from the enormous and increasing gulf in wealth and opportunity, and education, between the richest and poorest people in our society. A one-minute prayer moment of silence in school everyday will do nothing to change that" (School Prayer: News). It would be hard to deny that there is a "gulf" between the rich and the poor and that this causes problems in school, but how do they know that a moment of prayer in school will do nothing to change that problem? They don't know. It's just their opinion. Those who pray know that it does a lot of good. Students who pray are not as likely to go along with the crowd and succumb to peer pressure. Prayer helps them stay in touch with morality. The same amendment that guarantees religious freedom also guarantees freedom of speech. Students are free to express their opinions in class. They are free to wear T-shirts…
