Where do you stand on school Prayer?

Question

1st of all, are you aware of the current laws regarding prayer in public schools ? Please read thi link below for more info.

http://www.ed.gov/Speeches/04-1995/prayer.html#1

Do you think school prayer, should be mandatory, forbidden, or allowed according the dictates of each individual student's conscience ?

I think prayer in public schools should be neither forced, forbidden, or led by teachers or staff. I think individually students have a right to voluntarily and NON-DISRUPTIVELY pray. I pretty much agree with the law as it stands now. I am puzzled by those who claim that prayer is NOT allowed in public schools, since there are active bible clubs in public schools, and see you at the pole days, etc. When I hear people rant that prayer is "not allowed" it makes me think that MANDATORY prayer is what they really want, since currently, students can & do pray in public schools.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=46828

Apostle Jeff - Prayer has not been taken out of public schools, read the link. When you say prayer should be "brought back" do you mean MANDATORY prayer ? What religion ? How would you handle a student who did not wish to pray ?

Answer 1

I have taught in a public school in GA for 26 years, and prayer is neither mandatory nor is it forbidden. Students may pray silently if they so desire.
There is no teacher-led prayer.
"Meet me at the pole" is voluntary.

I am for voluntary, non-disruptive prayer for individual students and teachers.

Answer 2

Prayer in a public school should not be allowed at all.
If students at a public school truly want to promote prayer what they can do is meet with student who are interested at a private school even though they do not attended. Why? Because since it is a private school such as a catholic school there is not much of a problem with students praying or have a meeting and talking about prayers or religion in that setting.

Remember there is a difference between prayer in a public school and prayer in a private school.

And yes when people get upset about prayers not being allowed it does give the impression that they want to force students to pray. The question then become which prayer? Prayer according to Islam? Prayer according to Judaism? Prayer according to Christianity? Of course then should that happen it will become No! not that prayer but this one; that kind of argument will happen.

Therefore, it is best to just not allow prayer to be in public schools but another reason is to ensure that church and state remain separated.

Answer 3

Anyone can silently pray any time and any where.
Allowing ritualistic prayer in school should not be allowed in public schools. If parents want their children to pray all the time they should either do the praying before and after school or they should have the kids in a private school.

Answer 4

As long as there are pop quizzes, there WILL be prayer in school.

But too often, the law is irrelevant. Too many school boards are afraid of the ACLU, and so squelch student prayers even at assemblies equivalent to Congressional opening ceremonies. One Christian Valedictorian actually refused to give his address because he was not ALLOWED to give God credit for getting him where he was. Not too tolerant, were they? Yet this is just the kind of battle being waged every day in American schools. Is it surprising that complaints arise? Especially when we hear about Muslim prayer being allowed in public schools, and Muslim beliefs being taught through forced (via grading) emulation.

Oh, btw, School prayer has NEVER been mandatory. I went to a private Parochial school, and even there, non-Catholics were allowed to sit out prayer. So don't lie to us about 'mandatory' prayer. It never happened.

Answer 5

Id say ban it from being in school.

Education and religion should be segragated, to give the student a clearer
view of what the difference is between the two and to show the participant a good level of how to saturate what religion really
is.

Answer 6

I think having a moment of silence would work just fine. Those that want to pray then can, but it wouldn't be required. I don't think even that should be mandatory though, but left up to the school boards to decide.

Answer 7

As an atheist I would support moments of silence instead of prayer. This way those that would like to pray can. And those that don't want to pray, don't have to.

Answer 8

I think there's nothing wrong with letting a kid pray if they want to. Mandatory prayer is wrong, though.

Answer 9

I believe that prayer should be student-run if desired, but never mandated by the law. I think the law is fair as it is.

Answer 10

Group prayers in the classroom: No.
Individual, non-disruptive (i.e. silent) prayers: Yes
Group prayers in clubs: Yes.