by Anonymous1 on April 9th, 2007

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Do you think there should be public prayer in schools?

Yes - 48.63% (285 votes) 48.63%

No - 51.37% (301 votes) 51.37%

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Answers. 243 helpful answers below.

by sega256 on March 11th, 2011

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Im a christian and im completely against it.
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by level headed on March 11th, 2011

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I went to public grade school when I was a kid. From what I can remember, we all had to recite the Pledge of allegiance. I guess if prayer was allowed; whether Christian or otherwise, the athiests and those who choose not to recite, should be allowed not to do so. That would be fair, and it would not impose on any one.
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by ryguy on March 12th, 2011

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It is a blatant and egregious violation of separation of church and state.
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by The Anonymous Witch on April 16th, 2010
voted: No
nope .. sorry ,, i'm against child drafting . and recruitment tactics .
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by Fancy-Ghoul on September 10th, 2010
voted: Yes
Should be allowed, not mandatory.
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by Pleski on September 10th, 2010
The initial question has muddied this debate. Prayer is often silent and discreet. No one has the ability to mind control others to stop them praying.

If the debate had been 'Should schools make children recite prayers belonging to specific religions?" I would've given a resounding no response.

If the question had been "Should schools allow children time to quietly reflect, meditate or pray", I'd be in favour of that.
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by The Chief on September 12th, 2010
You know, I really with people would just shut the f*ck up about this d*mn issue.

The whole point of this subject revolves around the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which says:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

This doesn't have a d*mn thing to do with individuals having their own, private prayers anywhere.

What it DOES have to do with is preventing the GOVERNMENT from presenting religious practices, or giving the impression of presenting religious practices, to the students in PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

To that end, teachers and other public school officials may NOT do such things as lead the class in prayers because they are government employees performing the duties of their job.

If a student wishes to say a quiet, private prayer before class, before an exam, or before a meal, fine.

If a teacher wishes to say a quiet, private prayer before class, before an exam, or before a meal, then also fine.

I'm a Christian, but I really, REALLY am sick and tired of all the bullsh*t about this. This ISN'T about DENYING people the right to practice their faith.

Learn and practice your own faith, and raise your children in your own faith, on your own time. Not the time utilized by the GOVERNMENT RUN PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM.

And I'm sure there are some people out there ready to make a smart-*ssed comment about my claiming to be a Christian and using the language I did when answering this question.

Well, I'm a retired Sailor, too. So bugger off.

:):)
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by Strength on March 26th, 2010
People go to school to learn, not to pray. And you don't have to be in a quiet room to pray, you could do it in class, in your head or On a break.
I admit, it would be a good way to skip a subject you don't like.
What's the big deal.
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by Anonymous on September 10th, 2010
voted: Yes
Yes of course. A moment of silence is sufficient. That gives everyone who wants to pray plenty of time to do so. And prayer is something you can do no matter where you are and no matter what anyone says. If a group of students wants to do a prayer before a football game then let them. If someone doesn't like it they can not listen or they can go into a different room. And from my experience it is almost always atheist students that complain. They freaked out one time at my old school because a group of students was using our break time as a bible study. We gave those students hell for complaining and the school couldn't do anything to stop us. We were the Metalhead Christians and we never backed down from crap like that. We fought for our right to organize and hold a religious meeting. It was not endorsed by the school it was merely our little thing that they had no business interfering with.
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by Ain-EST on September 11th, 2010
voted: Yes
Every person should have the right to practice their superstition wherever they want, but obviously people shouldn't be forced to do so. A government institution shouldn't be religious, but that doesn't mean people shouldn't be allowed to wear religious apparel or pray in that institution.
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by Vaporeongirl on September 11th, 2010
voted: No
You should NOT bring religious conflict into an educational environment, I believe in separation of church and state.
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by Fruitpunchsamurai on September 12th, 2010
voted: Yes
I make this crystal clear when I think prayer should be allowed in school and students should be free to pray whenever they please, but that their prayer not be compulsory or disruptive. If a Muslim student needs to leave class for a moment to pray during the set times, s/he should be free to do so without penalty and the same for anyone else who needs a moment to pray when they see fit.
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by EL1 2 on April 9th, 2007
No. I do not pray. I do not believe that wishing something to happen is going to make it any more likely to occur. I support the separation of church and state. I am opposed to mandating any sort of spiritual activity.
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by jrbowler on March 21st, 2010
Prayer is allowed in public schools. Public school students are allowed to join and participate in student prayer and religious groups and these groups may conduct and sponsor prayers. In fact schools may not discriminate against any student group,simply because it has a religious purpose. Students may even pray in their classes as long as they do so in a manner that does not interrupt the class (someone once commented that as long as there are exams in schools there will be prayer in schools). The only thing that is forbidden in public schools is government mandated, teacher led religious rituals.
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by Sodapop on September 11th, 2010
voted: No
No. Schools are not the staging ground for recruitment. My dollars go towards making sure those kids learn what they are required to to be productive citizens. They can pray on their own, before a test, I don't care. But actual recognition, even 5 minutes for silence and such is just an absolute waste of my money.

We have the freedom of religion but that is a self-reserved right. No government building should publicly endorse worship.
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by Naughty Hamster on September 10th, 2010
voted: No
I answered no. If you want your kids to pray enroll them in a catholic school. Simple as that.
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by eclectic2 on September 10th, 2010
voted: Yes
The Supreme Court ruled on this issue in Marsh v. Chambers[1] in 1983, finding that the opening prayer is not an "establishment of religion" prohibited by the 1st amendment, but merely "a tolerable acknowledgment of beliefs widely held among the people of this country."

Every session of Congress begins with a prayer
by a paid preacher, whose salary has been paid
by the taxpayer since 1777. Why not in schools?
It was done when I went. It didn't corrupt anyone
from school in all those years that I know of.
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- Marsh v. Chambers had nothing to do with prayer in public schools and upheld the practice merely on the observance of the 200 year old tradition. Frankly, I agree with Justice Stevens' dissent where he points out the very specific sectarian language of the chaplain. However, we're talking about impressionable children in public schools, not adults in a legislative session. Just because you had mandatory prayer in school when you were young doesn't mean that we should have it now. We also had racial segregation in public schools in the 50s - that's not a good argument that we should adopt segregation now.
  And who's talking about corruption? What we're ultimately talking about is the religious freedom of children and the right not to be coerced by a majority ideology. Imagine being a Christian or a Jew being forced to be led in a Muslim prayer. You're in a classroom, you can't leave, your peers and authority figures are imposing a religious believe you don't agree with...how does this get a positive spin?
  
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  by Michael_H1410 on September 14th, 2010
- I wasn't led in any prayers in school. It was an open prayer I listened to. Said the Pledge of Allegiance and that was it. Prayer wasn't an all day thing. Opening Prayer, and I do feel it has everything to do with this topic. As a child, listening to a Muslum prayer is one thing but partaking is an other. I would agree if that child was forced to verbally recite the prayer, neal ect. Which we did not do in school. If that child wanted to leave while the prayer was said then they could. It's a free country. And return after, it only began the day.
  Corruption? Yes, isn't this what this is all about? "Coerced by a majority ideology" as you say? I would say it would be considered a form of curruption if you put it that way. I agree that it's not right to force / coerse someone to convert religiously. This is not the intent for the opening prayer in schools. It was a tradition in schools thoughout the US for as long as they did it in Congress is my point. So how does this now become so negative?
  
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  by eclectic2 on September 14th, 2010
- The USA is NOT a Christian nation:
  Art 11 Treaty of Tripoli
  Treaty of Peace and Friendship, Signed at Tripoli November 4, 1796
  
  ARTICLE 11.
  
  As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion,-as it has in itself no character of enmity against the laws, religion or tranquility of Musselmen,-and as the said States never have entered into any war or act of hostility against any Mehomitan nation, it is declared by the parties that no pretext arising from religious opinions shall ever produce an interruption of the harmony existing between the two countries.
  
  The official treaty was in Arabic text, and a translated version by Consul-General Barlow was ratified by the United States on June 10, 1797. Article 11 of the treaty was said to have not been part of the original Arabic version of the treaty; in its place is a letter from the Dey of Algiers to the Pasha of Tripoli. However, it is the English text which was ratified by Congress. Miller says, "the Barlow translation is that which was submitted to the Senate (American State Papers, Foreign Relations, II, 18-19) and which is printed in the Statutes at Large and in treaty collections generally; it is that English text which in the United States has always been deemed the text of the treaty."[10]
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Tripoli
  
  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:TreatyofTripoli.gif
  
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  by Czar_K on May 12th, 2012
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by r i p facebook on April 29th, 2008
Separation of Church and State. Need I say more?
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by Moongrim on September 14th, 2010
voted: No
School led prayer no.

Despite the charges to the contrary, folks are allowed to pray.
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by robbyxbox360 on September 11th, 2010
voted: No
Christians want prayer in schools, because they want to pollute the air. I tell you, Christians dont want a Muslim prayer in school, they'd fight that tooth and nail, or anything for that fact, other than there own.
Out of the 58.18% so far who voted, how many of the 23 votes where other than christian, ill give you a 1-2 votes on that if your lucky
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by Arisztid on September 12th, 2010
voted: No
I answered "no" but it is a qualified "no." The way the question is phrased is different than the content of the details. What I am answering "no" to is the following:

"Is a student-led Lord's Prayer acceptable before the big game on Friday night? What about a two-minute "moment of silence" during home room? " From what I am understanding from the debate, this question is focusing on set prayer times for a specific religion.

To answer the topic line of the question: of course prayer should be allowed. However, as many have said, students do not have to have a time set aside to pray.

To answer what I believe to be the meat of the question: no, I do not think prayer should be pushed on students. I consider this to be proselytizing. Even if it a non denominational moment of prayer, it is pushing the concept of religion being preferable over non religion.
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by bns0003 on September 12th, 2010
voted: Yes
Religious freedom was one of the principles that this nation was founded on. Any kind of prayer to any kind of religious figure should be allowed. Just because there is a moment of silence does not mean that they are forcing religion on any of the students.
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by ger2012 on September 12th, 2010
voted: No
Those arguing for prayer in schools generally press for Christian scripture to the exclusion of other religions, not to mention the long-suffering students who are non-religious. Public school is not the place for proselytizing. A simple solution for those who want religion in the classroom: send your kids to parochial school.
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by Shauna on September 11th, 2010
voted: Yes
I believe prayer should be allowed in public schools. The original leaders of America were so inspired by the bounty of our land, that they thanked God, whom they believe gave them such a wonderful country.

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation, under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all".

I do not think it is a religious imposition given the "original" concept of America and what is stands for.

Unfortunately, today, "politcal correctness" has made everyone so sensitive and prone to objecting to almost everything.

The irony is that it is the teachers who want to impose NO prayer in schools - yet the students want it.

Everyone is entitled to their beliefs and non-beliefs. But calling prayer in school an imposition is like saying " I do not care about America and all the freedoms and bounty of our country".

Because of political correctness , must we hurt the majority for the sake of the minority?

One should not take the freedoms of America for granted. One could live in a third world country instead - and I can guarantee - one would change one's mind quickly.
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by Lucky67 on May 25th, 2010
voted: Yes
Yes, When I was studying in public and private schools, since 1st grade to high school, we used to pray together in the morning. In some countries, in some schools, they still pray national anthem every morning, before they enter their class rooms. It's very common to pray in their schools.I liked it.
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by Andres on March 13th, 2009
NO !!!!! Prayer and all religion should be banned completely from schools! Such things rot young impressionable brain cells! Keep it OUT !
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by Sweet T on September 24th, 2008
No, I do not think it should be in school. School is for education. Church is for religion.
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by Anonymous on April 29th, 2008
As a whole, no. I am not aware that ppl who do it privatly are going against rules. I don't want to push my beliefs on other ppl so they should not make it a whole school event. At my High School they had a group that was called the Fellowship of Christian Athletes(it was not just for athletes) If you wanted to join you could and they would pray around the flag pole and do other donating type of things. If you didn't agree you just didn't go. I think they should should have a choice in if they do it or not, but if they removed it completly, than they should also not teach certain things because it goes agaist certain ppls beliefs.
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by csimme01 and Ninja Cooper UNMASKED on April 29th, 2008
As long as there are tests, there will be prayer in school.
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by jesicamartin on September 14th, 2010
voted: Yes
It is one of the basic human rights and I don't know that why this matter is being made disputed for the last few years.
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by DA BEN DAN yanggui zi on September 11th, 2010
voted: No
no.
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by Sympho de Proggy on September 11th, 2010
voted: No
prayer is already allowed in school.
no child has ever been and will ever be chastised for taking 5 mins off lunch break to pray.
.
this issue isn't really about the religious freedoms of the children, it's about the evangelical agenda of those who want to force prayer on those who wouldn't pray by their own volition.
.
at the very least this will alienate those who choose not to pray, or follow a different faith than the majority.
.
the worst will be children being forced to pray, which is a disgusting infringement of constitutional rights.
.
keep in mind that even if it isn't mandatory, if given structured time most kids will be pressured into it because everyone's doing it.
.
.
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children are extremely impressionable, and easily manipulated.
schools should be strictly secular to ensure they are not taken advantage of.
.
don't worry, they can keep the holiday crap :)
holidays have become so commercialized they're no more religious than new year's
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by Hotspot on September 11th, 2010
voted: No
Well of course! NOT!

America is a free country, which means that anyone can practice whatever religion they bloody heck want. (Even if their religion involves throwing banana's at a tree to knock out an acorn, hey! It can be fun!)
Anyways, not everyone has the same religion. So making everyone pray would be wrong, cause in other religions they don't pray. Praying is only for christians, if christians would like to pray then fine. But they should do it at their own time.
Everyone has their own religion and praying is for christians, you can't make a jewish kid or islamic kid pray. When he doesn't want to and it isn't in his religion.

Besides, if people want their children to pray. Then they should move them to a catholic school.

I also think praying does nothing but give you hope for something that's not going to happen.
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by FlaminCows on May 14th, 2010
voted: Yes
If one wishes to pray, one should be allowed to do so without discrimintation in any way that one chooses to do so. If you forbid prayer at school, then you are imposing your belief that prayer is wrong. That is the most obvious example of when freedom of religion is being taken away.
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by Mr. Bean is a superhero on March 21st, 2010
voted: Yes
Why not? it would help their spirituality doing so.
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by ZiggyStardust on October 8th, 2009
Should it be allowed? Yes
Should it be compulsory? No, Not unless you can cater for all belief systems - Including those who don't wish to take part
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by daisychain on October 10th, 2008
No, not a structured public prayer in schools because faith is an individual thing outside of church.

However, there are benefits to a dedicated "reflection/quiet time" where children should be given the opportunity to pray if they do have a faith or just time to think about the world, themselves, their families, friends or whatever if they do not have a religion.

This gives children the benefits of reflection, without excluding, indoctrinating or offending anyone.
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by Mephistopheles on September 24th, 2008
Sure! There should also be thinking in church
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by .avallach on August 29th, 2007
Allowed? Yes, of course. If individuals want to pray on their own, or groups of people of the same faith want to get together and pray, that should certainly be allowed.
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by Anonymous on April 9th, 2007
Yes. but, it should be voluntary....not mandatory.
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by Anonymous on September 12th, 2010
voted: No
If individuals feel a need to pray in public school, then knock yourself out. If prayer is part of the curriculum, or is used to discriminate against other faiths, then there is a problem.
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by Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here on September 12th, 2010
voted: Yes
As long as tests are given in school there will be private prayer.

And personally I see no problem with a non-sectarian public moment of silence and/or prayer in school each day.

What's the harm?
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by RefreshPerspective on September 11th, 2010
voted: No
As far as public schools should be concerned, religion doesn't exist.
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by jrbowler on March 21st, 2010
Prayer .... when, where, in what manner, by whom, to whom (or what)?
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by dimpledlo on October 8th, 2009
Yes i believe it should be allowed with nobody complaining or whining. Should it be voluntary for the very matter that i said before sure. if someone dont like it dont attend but why punish those that would want to just because someone else dont want to even if its voluntary??
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by TaylorMade on September 23rd, 2008
I used to pray almost every day in school and I don't think it hurt anybody. It went something like this Dear God get me the hell out of here. Oh God this shit is so boring.
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by Wide Awake @ has closing date woo hoo on September 23rd, 2008
I would say no, if the prayer is aloud. This would force a particular religion on the attendees.

I am all in favor of having a moment of silent reflection, that people in the class can use for whatever purpose they choose, including praying.

Goodness knows a little moment of quiet would be a welcome respite in some classrooms. :o)
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by sleidman on April 9th, 2007
No there are many different kids with different religions in school and just following one religion would by racist and discriminatory against them. It also takes time away when they could be learning. The founding fathers were right to have separation of church and state including schools
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by Wellduh on March 11th, 2011
I believe in prayer but I do not feel it should be mandatory. I also believe prayer should be allowed if that is what the students want.
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by RefreshPerspective on March 11th, 2011
voted: No
I had it at my school. It's one of the reasons I'm not Christian today. I don't like it. Schools are for education, not indoctrination. Kids can pray at home if they want to.
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