Should prayer be allowed in public schools?

Answer 1

Yes. A wholesome breakfast should be served to all students so that they can have a clear, focused day.

Answer 2

I'm not so much of an atheist zealot that I would support a complete ban on prayer in schools. I do support the rights of people to believe what they want to and practice those beliefs as they see fit, as long as it respects the separation of church and state. And as long as it is acknowledged that prayer is superstition

However t should be allowed in very limited circumstances only ., there should be a place that the believers could go to pray that was outside the classroom, and not led by any school or government officials. Muslims have to pray 5 times a day, so the xians and others could use the space at other times.

I'm uncomfortable with children being called "christian" or "muslim" etc in general however. They should be called children of christian parents, or muslim parents. Childrens minds are too immature to make a decision about religious belief, and schools should avoid supporting that. So I guess I'm sitting on the fence on this one to some degree.

Answer 3

Personal, voluntary prayer is fine. This atheist has no problem with it. Teacher or administration-led prayer, though, is a big no-no. Teachers and administrators of public schools are employees of the state, and as such should be neutral on the subject of religion.

More to the point, there are more than just Christians out there. Should a Muslim teacher have their class pray to Allah each morning?

Answer 4

Prayer should be allowed. I don't think a person should force feed a prayer. That is why I believe in a moment of silence where the children have a choice to pray to God for protection, etc... or just meditate on nothingness.

Also, Muslims should have the right to have a place to bow to the east at times they want to. Still should pray silently unless others aren't around.

Also any gathering (including prayers) for destructive purposes is unconstitutional. Only to gather in peace (for peaceful purposes).

Answer 5

It already is. We don't need the moment of silence b.s. or a law saying we have to have said moment of silence or recite the Pledge or anything. Prayer already is allowed by the First Amendment.

Thing is, everyone's legally guaranteed their right to believe or not believe. The government can't tell we must or we can't pray as we see fit. By telling us we have to pray in school(let alone what prayers must be said) is establishment of religion that violates our right to believe or disbelieve as we see fit.

Therefore, since we're guaranteed to believe or disbelieve as we see fit, including praying when we wish(be it before a test or meal), we can do so. The government can't tell us not to, nor can it tell us we must. Period.

So prayer is already allowed. We don't need laws to tell us to allow it because we already do in the First Amendment.

Answer 6

It's already allowed -- on a strictly voluntary basis. Any student who wants to pray, alone or with friends, and outside of classroom time, can go for it.

It's only mandatory, forced prayer that's illegal, because that violates the First Amendment to the Constitution. This means that teachers and principals may not -- for instance -- broadcast a daily prayer over the intercom.

Answer 7

Prayer is no good.
We can't face problems in the world such as:
(global warming, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, sting-rays being defensive, etc etc)
by using prayer, science proves this.

Instead of wasting your time preparing for
an afterlife, spend this entire life preparing your future generations for their lives and so on.

The one's who didn't evactuate New Orleans
just sat back and prayed that the hurricane
wouldnt flood New Orleans. Wow!!! Their prayers
were answered huh? They didnt leave b/c they were
lazy and thought prayer could help divert the
hurricane. WRONG! We as a human race have to take onproblems in the world Face-to-Face, not Face-to-Thought.

Answer 8

Either way.
Whether it's allowed or not, my kids were very well aware not to follow along and not saying amen.

God does not hear certain prayers, especially from the unrepentant wicked.

It's better to abstain from a good prayer than sanction a bad one

Answer 9

It matters not whether it is allowed or prohibited. During Finals, there is a LOT of prayer going on!

Answer 10

as long as there are tests there should be prayer in public schools...

Answer 11

Not if they interfere with the normal functioning of the school. And only if the same right is granted for all other religions. And only if nobody is forced into an activity connected with a different religion than theirs.