Have incident of violence among Americans increased since the barring of prayer in school?

Question

I'd like facts, not just opinions. Everyone is entitelded to their opinion, though.

Answer 1

Well, for every fact that someone can give you backing up their answer, there's going to be another study done by the opposite force proving otherwise. But let me give you a fact that no one can argue...in both of G.W.Bush's elections, the county by county breakdown shows that counties voting for Gore/Kerry always had a greater crime rate than that of Bush counties. Bush being republican (supporter of prayer in school) and Gore/Kerry being democrat (non-supporter) of prayer in school, this may be an indication of how prayer in school (or the lack thereof) affects our nation.

Answer 2

No, when I was a young kid there were still prayers in school. By the time I entered Junior High School it was a dead issue. When I was in High School (a very large one near a big city) there was one case of a stabbing in school.

After I graduated and moved on to college things started getting a little rougher. When I was in High School metal detectors weren't needed, students fought and picked on each other as usual, but they didn't get so violent about it.

Now days’ finding a gun at school is pretty common. In my day people caught with weapons were suspended for a time. Now days they are put into a special school for violent students. These schools had to be developed to meet the no tolerance policy and they weren’t needed 20 years ago, nearly a decade after school prayer was cancelled.

The violence in our schools has increased because of our increased population and pressure, not that lack of prayer. That's my opinion; the rest is observed FACT.

We used to have to say the Pledge of Allegiance every day. Somewhere in Elementary School that stopped. But, it did not prevent people from being loyal to America, it may have slipped a little, but 9/11 proved that it was always there. Congress didn’t just go outside to sing for the press, they did it as the leaders of the nation. They did it to show solidarity for all of us.

President Regan was one of the most patriotic Presidents we had. He was also one of the most popular. The Great Communicator showed that our people still cared deeply about our country.

I am sorry if this doesn’t meet your agenda, but you can’t blame the Separation of Church and State for the current troubles in our schools. Personally I blame it on the parents, who were part of the “Me Generation.” They have the hectic schedules and push it on their kids. They are putting all the pressure on their kids to succeed, but they aren’t the only part of the problem.

Answer 3

I doubt it, I think it has been going down steadily for years, but still high among 1st world countries. Your issue does not exist in a vacuum though. It is impossible to measure such a thing, with so many other millions of factors involved - social programs, more police in many urban areas, there is no way to measure JUST the affect that barring prayer in school has, with so many other affects working both sides.

Answer 4

things in general has gotton worse w/o prayer in schools use to you could open a ball game in prayer when i was in school many moons ago some open the day in pray and the pledge everday and i dont remember us going through the prombles of today such as gangs and no respect because you were taught manners now if you try to teach such things yu are told its religion if you ask me its just good sense to teach ppl to love then you dont have hatered and selfishness controling every thing and everbody as for as the % i would give it a guess to say violences is up by 75% good luck on geting some rreal no.

Answer 5

Since the crime rate in the United States have been in a decline for most of the past 10 plus years - I would say that incidents of violence have greatly declined.

Answer 6

Not in my state either. I do not like the fact that prayer is not allowed in school, me being a Christian and all, but whatever. I haven't really noticed a change.

Answer 7

It's definately increased.
As to the cause...I think it's the lack of physical discipline.
If teachers were allowed to thwack their students, there would be a lot less problems.

Answer 8

Violence has increased. I am unsure if there is proof that it is becasue of Prayer.

If you are wondering I am dead set against prayer in school

Answer 9

yes...totally. gangs were connected only by chains, children did not disrespect adults, drug use was kept behind doors, guns were used with common sense, teens were not openly engaged in sex, television had proper ratings and on and on we could go.

Answer 10

Prayer in school has never been barred. Any one in school is welcome to say a prayer at any time. State led prayer in schools is another thing all together. State led prayer in schools has not been barred either, it has always been illegal. So your question is void.