Should public schools set up 15 miniute prayer times ?

Question

http://www.firstamendmentcenter.org/commentary.aspx?id=18820

This was done for Muslim students . Should the same be done for all students or none at all ? Should the academic scheduled be disrupted to accomodate anyone's religion ?

No, I don't think the schools should be organizing prayers for ANY religion. Students are already free to pray non-disruptively and voluntarily, alone or in groups, during non-instructional time. If these students MUST pray at an exact time, and it doesn't happen during lunch, then they should be excused to go pray on their own, but the lessons shouldn't stop to accomodate their religion. It should be their responsibility to make up the work. If we start parceling up the day into 15 miniute prayer session for one group, other groups will demand the same thing. Perhaps their religion will have to meet at another time. Before you know it, the school will be turned into a multi-denominational church with no time for academics.

Answer 1

It depends on how the time is structured. The old concept of freedom from religion applies to this: if time is set aside for praying, then some students will feel an obligation to pray, which is another way of saying "coerced." And that is clearly prohibited by law.

I think the op/ed you cited laid out the challenges appropriately.

As to your stated question (Should public schools set up 15 minute prayer times?), the answer is "no." But if they can accomodate without coercing, they should.

Answer 2

NO NO NO NO NO! This is just plain wrong. Public schools should have absolutely nothing to do with religion. If a student wants to use any free time they might have during the school day to pray, that is their right, but schools should not deliberately set aside time during the day for prayer.

Answer 3

I think I agree with you...students should be allowed to be excused without any fuss about it - but classes are short enough, and that seems like an awful lot of disruption from lessons.

I'm religious, and personally had no difficulties saying little silent prayers by myself in school without anyone really needing to know what I was doing - did that a lot before tough exams - LOL.

Answer 4

I don't know of any other religion that requires scheduled prayer time so your second question might not need addressing. As a Christian I'm of two minds on the matter of accommodating Muslims. The whole misinterpretation of "separation of church and state" needs to be addressed as well.

Answer 5

It should be all or nothing. If you're going to allow Muslims to pray during school hours you have to let everyone pray during school hours. You can't pick and choose which groups get that privilege.

My personal opinion is to keep prayer out of schools entirely.

Answer 6

No! Education as delivered by a state system should be entirely secular if that is the predominate viewpoint as is the case in the UK. France has led the way in Europe with a totally secular approach to education and this in a predominantly Catholic society. Religion has no place in school!

Answer 7

No, the First Amendment forbids a state religion, and it has been ruled that prayer in public schools in unconstitutional. That makes sense. Thomas Jefferson forbid the Bible to be taught in Virginia public schools, for he hated "tyranny over the minds of men".

Answer 8

Where was this done for Muslim students? I am a teacher and that interests me. If we can't even say, 'under God' in the Pledge of Allegiance, how can this be? I'm not saying it isn't true, I am just surprised to hear it.

Answer 9

MUSLIMS have NO CHOICE .. in many of their countries..

THEY HAVE TO DO THIS... its the law


we dont.. do you want public schools to Also have *prayer* time for the other religions who believe in a different god as yours ??


i dont think so

Answer 10

well in islam there are five pillers a muslim should perform it.1st of all is that shadath(to believe that there is no God only ALLAH &mohammad (peace &blessings of ALLAH be upon him is the last prophet),2nd prayer,3rd zakat,4rth fasting &5th is hajj.so how can the non muslim perform it &he is not muslim.