America Needs Prayer in Public Schools Essay - 1999 Words

Not so long ago, a typical school day would begin with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer. Today, a simple prayer is considered offensive and unconstitutional. A prayer is meant to be a conversation with God; a personal connection to a sovereign being of choice. I personally believe that prayer is beneficial. Prayer calms my mind and gives me the chance to thank God for all of his blessings. Granted, not everyone believes in the same God that I do. I believe most people would probably agree that there is some form of higher power that everyone has to answer to. One of the things that I love about being an American, are the freedoms that I have. I am free to worship the God I choose and to pray at anytime or any place that I choose.†¦show more content†¦Little did they know their complaint against the school system would shock the country and set into motion a new way of looking at what was a time honored tradition. After several failed attempts through the various court s ystems in the state of New York, the case ended up going before the highest court in the country, the United States Supreme Court. On June 25, 1962, the United States Supreme Court voted 6 to 1 in favor of banning the Regents’ Prayer. The Justices considered the prayer a â€Å"direct contradiction to the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment which prohibits the government from sponsoring or favoring any religion†¦prayer is a purely religious activity that should be left to the people, not the government† (Haas 48). The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment states: â€Å"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Irons 11). I believe that many people who read the First Amendment and the Establishment Clause take it out of context. I agree that the government should not be allowed to establish one religion, but I do not agree with the government interjecting and infringing upon my rights or my children’s rights to pray when and where they choose. Just look at the last part of the Establishment Clause â€Å"prohibiting the free exercise thereof†¦Ã¢â‚¬  If my child chooses to pray at theShow MoreRelatedPrayer in the Public Schools1111 Words   |  5 PagesPrayer in the Public Schools Diana Brown Everest Online Composition 1-226 ABSTRACT This essay is composed of facts supporting that prayer in Public Schools would be beneficial for the children and the United States of America. Prayer is an address to God or a god in word or thoughts. The Anti- Defamation League states that, â€Å"A moment of silence will inevitably be unconstitutional or the purpose and effect of such moments of silence are invariably to advance religion. The U.S. Supreme CourtRead MoreShould Public Schools Begin The Day With A Silent Prayer Time?870 Words   |  4 Pages Should Public Schools Begin the Day with a Silent Prayer Time? Beginning the day with a silent prayer time in public schools is a very controversial topic. Some people say that prayer should not be allowed in public schools because public schools are funded by the tax payers, who are not all religious. Others say that prayer should be allowed in public schools because it would acknowledge the religious and spiritual heritage of America, and that it would improve the school environment and societyRead MoreDownfall of Education System was No School Prayer649 Words   |  3 Pagesâ€Å"Since prayer was removed from public school classrooms in 1962, we have had a 6-fold increase in violent crime, our divorce rate has tripled,births to single mothers have increased 5-fold, the teenage suicide rate has tripled, and SAT scores have dropped 10%.(Creation Today). Reasons that represent why prayer and moments of silence should be allowed in the public school system will be expressed. This essay will represent the affirmative stance when regarding this topic of school wide prayer and momentsRead MoreThe Prayer On Public Schools1240 Words   |  5 PagesFor much of the 20th Century and into the 21st, school prayer has been the focal point of an ongoing debate about the position of religion in American civilization. The question of the legality of prayer in public schools brings together a number of important notions in American government and legal philosophy. 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Conservatives, trying to regulate the religious freedoms of Americans , have tried numerous times to pass amendments that allow private student-led prayer in the classrooms(Baik, 243). Liberals, realizing that private prayer is and has always been legal, try to keep the balance between church-state separation as it is. This has kept the political issue of religion at a boil and confused many people on theRead MorePrayer in Public Schools Essay1440 Words   |  6 Pagestype of school students attend, organized prayer is mandatory, allowed, or banned. In the United States, organized prayer in public schools is prohibited because it goes against the Constitution’s separation of church and state (Jinkins 123). The United States promises religious freedom, but is yet to define the degree and limitation of that liberty. However, American citizens have been debating for many years, whether o rganized prayer should be an option or obligation in public schools. Some peopleRead MorePrayer, Homosexuality, And Alcohol And Drugs1469 Words   |  6 PagesReligion vs. Secularism in Prayer, Homosexuality, and Alcohol and Drugs The Puritans left England to be able to have the freedom of choosing their religion. Their voyage seems like a long time ago, but still today, America struggles to find the balance between religion and freedom. This paper will discuss three areas where this battle is manifested: public prayer, homosexuality, and alcohol and drugs. America today reflects the outcome of each side’s ability to make laws and the measures that wereRead MorePrayer in Schools Essay1215 Words   |  5 PagesPrayer in Public School There are many different philosophies regarding prayer in public school. It seems to be a difficult issue to decide upon. The opinions are wide-ranging and convoluted. This paper will attempt to highlight the many ideas and opinions as to whether prayers in public school should be allowed and to what extent. It will further show how our founders idea of a separate church and state has been taken out of context and why prayer in school should be allowed, but not requiredRead MoreEngel V. Vitale: the Beginning of the Battle Against School Prayer977 Words   |  4 Pagesto the public schools. One of the most prominent cases was that of Engel v. Vitale. The court case of Engel v. Vitale became known as the School Prayer decision and was the first of its kind in the American judicial system. The New York Board of Regents penned the following prayer to be spoken in New York public schools: â€Å"Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers, and our Country† (Unger and Unger 223). The prayer was intended