Prayers in Public Schools Should Be Allowed

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 game for the safety of the players; yet, students have been censored by the schools who think they are doing something against the law. 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 with dirty sayings and listen to songs that use filthy language. They are free to play violent video games. They are free to burn the flag in order to make a political statement. Why are they NOT free to speak to God?

People who are against prayer in school have little to offer students who are seeking meaning in their lives. They say that atheists are offended and made to feel like freaks when prayer takes place in a classroom. But since we are not talking about school-sponsored prayer, and not talking about prayers said out loud, atheists wouldn't necessarily even know that prayer was going on. They have a right not to pray. Those who want to pray should have an equal right to do what they want. If a teacher or school board made up prayers and demanded that all the students take part in them, maybe this would make those who didn't want to engage in them the objects of teasing and ridicule from the other students. But it is hard to imagine that private, silent prayer could possibly promote hatred toward other religions. How could it, if the school is not prescribing it but only allowing students to decide on their own to pray or not? As to the argument that other students will ridicule the student who prays, may be that could happen. But Jesus said we are blessed if we are "persecuted for righteousness' sake" (Matt. 5:10). Prayer is a righteous thing to do, and if students choose to bear whatever persecution or ridicule might come about as a result (and thus get the "blessing"), that is their decision to make.

Private prayers do not interfere with school activities or classroom work. No time out is being asked. A student who turns to God mentally in prayer is not disrupting anything. If anything negative is going on at school, something that shouldn't be happening, students who turn to God for help in the situation are bringing a wholesome influence to the situation. God will help whenever asked -- in ways we couldn't think of by ourselves -- and every time God responds with help, our spiritual strength increases and faith grows stronger.