Need arguements to make in a research paper regarding prayer in public schools!?

Question

I am a junior in college, and have a question regarding an argument/research paper i need to write. My topic is: Should mandatory and/or voluntary prayer be permitted in public schools? My possible thesis statement is: Private voluntary prayer should be allowed in public schools.

WHAT are some points/arguments I could make in the paper about this topic? One I have so far is common misconceptions about school prayer, and I was going to talk about the legal aspect of it too. I need quite a few things to talk about because this paper needs to be at least 8 pages. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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Answer 1

Considering private voluntary prayer is already permitted? I'd say you're kinda defacto done.

Answer 2

I agree with this opinion.

I have no problem with students organizing themselves into groups before or after school or individuals praying before class in ways that don't disturb other students, but there certainly should not be state-sponsored, teacher- or administration-led prayer. Once you start that, you give someone else the power to decide what beliefs will be taught to your children.

My only objection to prayer in school is having a specific religion or denomination recognized as THE official one and ALL students forced to acknowledge it as such and worship in the same way. As a Humanist, I firmly believe in freedom of religion. It would not harm me to remain respectfully quiet, meditate, or read while my religious neighbors quietly pray.

I personally like the moment of silence idea. It's inclusive; brief enough to not detract from the primary purpose of school, i.e., getting an education; and acknowledges that faith is an integral part of many people's lives.

Unfortunately, there will always be some selfish teacher or principal who, sooner or later, decides that she has the right--nay, the duty--to lead her students "on the right path" and steps over the line, spoiling it for everybody.

Peace and blessings!

Answer 3

You could have an entertaining beginning or ending quote if you want to point out that it doesn't matter what Congress and other groups try to do to legislate prayer, that as long as teachers give tests, there will always be prayer in the schools.
I would say that if it is called "a moment of silence" - no one of any religious persuasion or lack thereof can object. There have been times when a moment of silence was observed when a President of the United States died, for example.

Answer 4

I don't know if I'd be much help, but I was talking to an attorney in my Sunday School class about this one morning. I was talking about how I wished there still was prayer in schools. He wanted to know how we should pray. I told him I thought we should pray in a manner that was acceptable to all Christians. He reminded me that not all students were Christians.

Right now, in my son's school, private voluntary prayer is allowed. Any and all types of prayer are allowed, as long as they don't infringe upon the right of others. How could prayer infringe upon the rights of others? What if a satanist wanted to pray? What if he/she believed that during prayer, they were to be nude? What if the Muslim had to stop in the middle of lecture/testing to pray? Would that be considered a disturbance?

I'm sure you've already thought of these arguments, but I wanted to help. Good luck!

Answer 5

Show the connection between the removal of school prayer and then the influx of school shootings(most school shooters complained that they were never part of the 'group' . School prayer made everyone feel part of the same group) . Show the influx of pregnancies , violence , depression , etc .
Then conversely show that when school prayer was allowed. . . no one complained . No one that is until one family was 'offended' . Oh really , well if that were the case then each of us could say we're offended by it's removal . But the ACLU would never support our rights or offenses against us .
Prayer was for God . Nobody needed to be offended by that . Over 80% of the population is Christian , and the majority of the other 20 or so percent also believes in God . Just maybe a different God , but God nonetheless . So who are we offending ? 1% ? 5% ?.. . While really offending the other 95% . Yeah , like that makes sense !!

Answer 6

Let us be a Gestapo school. Do it or suffer the consciences!

If an individual wishes to say a prayer in school then they should be allowed their right to do so and if an individual wishes not to say one then they should be allowed their right not to do so.

There are many beliefs and cultures in this world and to order individuals who do not pray for whatever reason, is a dictatorship regime and not a free society.

I take it that mandatory prayer in the schools means that of all beliefs and religions will have to say their religions prayers in school, (Right)?

Since we are not a world of one, you can not mean only one!

Answer 7

Center your research more on the separation of chuch and state.

"In 1948, the U.S. Supreme Court declared that religious instruction in public school was unconstitutional. In 1963, it ruled that mandatory reading of Bible verses or prayers are similarly unconstitutional. However, the same First Amendment guarantees that students may engage in many forms of non-disruptive personal religious expression, including the wearing of religious clothing and jewelry. They can pray (individually or in student-led groups) on the school bus, at the flagpole, before lunch, in the corridors, in the classroom before and after lessons, at sports events, etc. They can talk freely about religion to other students outside of class. They can distribute religious literature. If there are any student-led clubs in the school, they have the right to organize student-led Bible prayer clubs. Teachers are not allowed to teach any religion as truth. However, they can teach about religion, as long as they meet certain requirements. Finally, public schools cannot require students to recite prayers from a specific religion each morning."

Answer 8

The first person's first answer is correct. You can add a hint of that ingredient in your essay, but private is kind of like a secret and people keep thier religions and beliefs to themselves and if they desire, upon the safety,atmosphere and environment in front of people, they may expose thier beliefs without arguments or harm. Schools shan't ban any religious activities upon the grounds. People can volunteer and pursue themselves into to the activities (such as prayer) if they desire. Consider the first admendment. But, they shall do it in a safe zone where it won't disturb anyone else.

Answer 9

Private voluntary prayer is already allowed in public schools.

No school official can possibly know that the person sitting in his desk, is praying. Unless the kid gets up and starts praying outloud, and asking others to join him.

Only school led prayer by school officials and students are not allowed.

So what kind of argument would you be making, if it is already allowed? Private voluntary prayer can be said by anyone at anytime, that is the beauty of it, no one knows you are doing it .. get it (private), no one asked you to do it.. get it (voluntary)..

There is no argument to make, you might want to rethink this paper.

Answer 10

Private voluntary prayer cannot hurt or disturb others, because it is private and voluntary. Anyone who does not want to hear it or be around it doesn't have to be, and anyone that doesn't want to pray doesn't have to.

Also, our constitution dictates that our citizens be given the right to religious freedom, and to restrict where religion can be practiced, especially privately and voluntarily, would be against the constitution.

Answer 11

I am against religion being taught in schools but when it comes to voluntary prayer, I don't mind. As long as no scriptures are being shoved down other students' throats. I had a friend who said grace before eating his lunch, at school. It didn't bother me because he wasn't hurting anyone and he wasn't pushing anything onto me.