So who exactly is keeping Christians from praying in public schools in the United States?

Question

I keep hearing this and for the life of me I can’t figure it out. And, I’m on a school board!

As far as I know a student can pray all he or she wants to during school. They can even roll around on the cafeteria floor, spread mac & cheese on their chest and jabber in tongues. They can raise holy hands and slay each other in the spirit. No one is stopping any of this.

What you can’t do is lead a group of students in prayer as part of a structured school activity. Nor can a student interrupt classroom time to pray. But they also are not allow interrupt class time to sing “Highway to Hell” either. But even here there are exceptions; A Bible club is free to pray until mold grows out of their ears. Sports teams can pray before games provided that the prayer is not mandatory.

So where did the idea that students can’t pray in school come from?

Answer 1

Remember the Valedictorian who hijacked her Commencement speech to proselytize?

And then she claimed she was persecuted because she wasn't allowed to convert her graduating class.

This is the type of nonsense they claim as persecution.

Answer 2

Some school admistrators have gone over the top with interpreting their responsiblities, and erred by over-restricting freedom of expression as far as religion goes, by banning t-shirts and such. Those kinds of actions wouldn't hold up to a court challenge, but how many people file suit because the principal said I can't do something I think I should be allowed to do?

Also, some preachers are irresponsible with their pulpits, and believe that the ends justify the means. So they take any restriction of religion and start scaring people into believing that God is removed from school by law, when it simply isn't.

Answer 3

I suggest that preventing people from praying in school is appropriate at certain times. For example, during an exam when everyone is supposed to be quiet, then praying out loud should not be permitted. Also, when students are supposed to be paying attention in English class or completing their lab assignment in biology then they should not be praying.

During free time, at lunch, etc., they should be able to pray all they want, provided they don't cause a disturbance.

Answer 4

It is not welcomed at football games or any other games.

Very seldom is a moment of prayer ever called for in school for any activity or curriculum.

The mention of Jesus Christ is often attacked at Graduating Class Exercises by parents who involve the ACLU.

The ACLU has school administrators afraid to mention Christ in the school for any reason. We have lawyers retained for the school's lawsuits and 40 years ago this was not necessary.

The ACLU promotes Satanism, homosexuality, and any evil which the school wants to place in it, but Jesus Christ is a name they cannot allow.

The Lord's Prayer could be recited aloud over the loud speakers in the 50's and in the 60's this came out of schools. The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag "Under God" was recited in the 50's and in the 60's this came out of schools.

The problem is the schools aren't stopping bad behavior of any kind except the bad behavior of mentioning the name of Jesus Christ in school.

A Christian Principal and an Atheist Principal have different school standards and different principles. You can try to take the religion out of the school, but you can't take the religion out of the person. For this reason, our forefathers made sure that Congress can make no laws in respect to religion. Our churches are allowed to do as they want and say as they want. Free speech always reflects the person's religion because we can't separate state and religion in the person.

Answer 5

I don't know. We'll find out when there are Muslim Teachers and Muslim Students who sit near the wall or kneel and pray openly on a regular basis. We'll see if anyone tries to stop it.

Answer 6

Don't forget the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Boy Scouts, and other clubs that use public schools.

Answer 7

No one is keeping anyone from praying. No one is forcing my son to pray or hear a prayer either.

Answer 8

That's like asking why can't our children learn math. It would help if the children had a teacher that knew something about math.
Again you say separation of church and state. Children just naturally don't know how to pray, or do math, or how to spell correctly, or that they really shouldn't shoot their classmates.

Answer 9

Thats why I dont care that 'prayer was taken out' its just not formal anymore

Answer 10

at my school there wasnt anything wrong with it, we even had a christian club that met after school and held fundraisers. I think some schools are different.