Research paper-- Prayer in public schools?

Question

I am writing a college-level research paper-due July 17- on why prayer in public schools should be constitutionalized. I believe very strongly that it should, but I have to have 3 really strong reasons-- does anyone have any ideas to SUPPORT my theory??

My English teacher has approved the topic. My paper is 1500+ words; he said that since it's such a big subject, I need to pick the 3 most significant reasons and emphasize them.

To Amy B--

My paper is an argumentative paper, but I must have legitimate facts to back up my position. So it's kind of both research and argumentative mixed together.

Answer 1

Okay, I COMPLETELY disagree with mandatory school prayer, but I don't see any problem with allowing students the option of praying or not. See the following journal articles:

Title: School Prayer , By: Hurst, Marianne D., Education Week, 02774232, 8/10/2005, Vol. 24, Issue 44

Teenagers overwhelmingly favor the idea of allowing a moment of silence at school for students who want to pray, while a smaller majority supports spoken prayer, a poll by the Gallup Organization has found.

The poll by the Washington-based firm surveyed 549 youths ages 13 to 17 in April and May.

The Gallup Organization found that 84 percent of respondents said they were in favor of a moment of silence, and that 58 percent said that spoken prayer without a specific religious reference should be permitted.

Forty-four percent of respondents said that prayers mentioning Jesus should be permitted. The poll has a margin of error of 5 percentage points. More information about the poll is online at www.gallup.COm. — MARIANNE D. HURST

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53% of the general public believes that schools should offer a moment of silence and 20% believe that students should Say a prayer that refers to God but no specific religion.

Spectrum: Journal of State Government, Spring2001, Vol. 74 Issue 2, p30

[Note that I have selectively interpreted the facts that I quote here- this survey also contains stats that go against your argument.]
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"Asked whether the political system would be threatened if religious leaders or groups became more involved in politics, 63 percent said it would not while 31 percent said it would."

Religion survey , State Government News, 00390119, Feb2001, Vol. 44, Issue 2

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Shortly after the school prayer decisions,(n1) the crime rate escalated and the counter-culture blossomed. This is not, I have been told, a simple coincidence. After all, how could anybody mug a pedestrian, smoke marijuana, or enjoy promiscuous sex after starting each school day with "Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers and our Country."(n2) No school prayer--no moral fiber.(n3) It's that simple.(n4) The causal relationship is so obvious and those asserting the relationship should not be expected to advance empirical proof.(n5)

(n1.) Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421 (1962); Abington Sch. Dist. v. Schempp, 374 U.S. 203 (1963).
(n3.) See Stephen B. Presser, Recapturing the Constitution: Race, Religion, and Abortion Reconsidered 168-69 (Regnery Publishing, 1994).

THE SCHOOL PRAYER DECISIONS , By: Marshall, William P., Constitutional Commentary, 07427115, Winter99, Vol. 16, Issue 3

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Hope these resources help! I took them all from the search engine EBSCOhost, which you probably have access to through your school or local library (I access it from home using my library card).

Answer 2

Are you writing a research paper or a expositionary paper? Are you supposed to research prayer in public schools or are you trying to convince your reader of your position?

I think you need to be very clear of your assignment. If it is a research paper then you are way off course and your grade will truly suffer. You need to be researching the history and possible future of prayer in schools. Your first stop should be the Constitution and lead up to current legislation on the topic.

If this is and expositionary paper then make sure that you include opposing views and why some support those views, then contradict them using laws not just personal feelings.

Good luck and feel free to e-mail me if it's a research paper and you need a new place to start.

Answer 3

When I was in high school, my sister and I read a book called Raising the Standard: Reclaiming Your World for God by Carman. It came out in 1994, so it might not be your most current resource...but his arguments are very good. The book is available used starting at one penny on Amazon, so it's definitely affordable.

Coral Ridge Ministries is also very active in this subject area. There may be booklets, pamplets or other materials that might help you support your ideas for your paper. One is called A Godly Education and it's $5. Another one is called Guidelines for Religious Expression in America's Public Schools. And it costs $1. Yet another one is New Guidelines for Public School Prayer, $5. I just typed in the word "prayer" in the subject search on the website.

http://www.coralridge.org/CRMresources.asp

Another website resource may be:

http://www.religioustolerance.org/ps_pray.htm

Answer 4

Well, if a student is expected to pray at a time when they're in school, and they cannot, wouldn't they be committing a sin or at the very least doing something their religion looks down upon? I understand that public schools shouldn't PROMOTE a certain religion, but not allowing someone to practice their religion is practically a violatyion of human rights.

Answer 5

Umm, not sure about facts of support, but I read an online fwd once that said the grad. class was able to get "God bless you" in their ceremony by all faking to sneeze on stage. I think that is a good start! Another thing, A high school in my area still sings the traditional "Christian" Christmas music by going around the law. They are considered "folk music" and are so titled when being played. We love hearing that in our public school! Good luck on your paper!

Answer 6

Because our Constitution gives us the right to freedom of religion. When the pilgrims settled in this land it was to pursue the right to worship as they wanted...why then is our country now turning away from the very reason this country was founded. God has been in our government since the governments inception...cite the constitution and our country's founding fathers.

Answer 7

try this website for the alliance Defense Fund


http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/main/default.aspx

also try the
Christian Coalition

As a Christian, I don't believe we need to spend all that energy and MONEY, to get a constitutional amendment.. just wish we could implement the freedoms and rights we all should have.

Answer 8

I think it should be up to the individual person, because me praying in the back of a classroom to myself would not make the school blow up.