Reaction Paper on "Should There Be Prayer Allowed in the Public School System?"

Reaction Paper 3 pages (1049 words) Sources: 3

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Religion

Should there be prayer allowed in the public school system?

The history of prayer in public school has been one that has had a lot of legal interpretation. The link between religion and government in the United States can be found in the First Amendment to the Constitution. This amendment prevents the government from establishing a religion. It also protects people's rights of religious expression and activities from government interference. The First Amendment also sets limits on the conduct of public school officials as it relates to any religious activity (Prayer in Public School - Overview of Governing Constitutional Principles, 2003)

The Supreme Court has again and again found that the First Amendment requires public school officials to be neutral when comes to religion. They are not allowed to show preference for nor opposition to any religious expression. This was handed down in the cases of Good News Club v. Milford Cent. Sch., 533 U.S. 98 (2001) and Everson v. Board of Educ., 330 U.S. 1 (1947). The First Amendment forbids any religious activity that is supported by the government. It also upholds religious activity that is carried out by private people. The line that separates government-sponsored religious activity and private religious expression is often hard to determine as it relates to the scope of the First Amendment. It is the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment that prevents government sponsored religion, while it is the Free Exercise Clause that protects private speech that supports religion. This can be seen in the case of Santa Fe Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Doe, 530 U.S. 290, 302 (2000) (Prayer in Public School - Overview of Governing Constitutional Principles, 2003)

Those who support the ideas of prayer being put back into the public schools often argue that the U.S. Supreme Court has substituted the freedom of religion which is guaranteed by the Constitution, with freedom from religion. Supporters believe that banning school prayer reduces the religious freedom of those students who would like to pray. They also feel that it forces students to do something according to what the non-religious minority wants. Advocates believe that over the years the U.S. Supreme Court has misunderstood the Establishment Clause of the Constitution. They hold that a simple and voluntary school prayer does not amount to the government establishing a religion anymore than does employing Congressional chaplains or having government recognized religious holidays. Proponents feel that school prayer would bring about many positive benefits for both the students and society. A lot of public school systems are seen as disintegrating. This can be seen by a notable increase in school shootings, an increase of drug use, alcoholism, teen pregnancy, and the spread of HIV. School prayer is thought to be able to help to fight these concerns by inspiring a sense of morality in students. Prayer is also thought to be needed in order to guard today's children. Supporters think that schools must do more than just teach children academics. They feel that schools must also look after children's souls while reinforcing the values that are being taught at home and in the community. School prayer would allow those… READ MORE

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