Separation Between State And Religion Essays - Prayer, School Prayer

Separation Between State And Religion One of the most common questions asked about public prayer is whether or not it is legal to hold it in a public school. It depends on the type of prayer we are talking about, and who is doing the praying, since people are usually talking about organized classroom prayer, often led by a teacher. The Supreme Court has set a law that states that organized prayer in a public school goes against the First Amendment, whether it's in the classroom, over the loud speaker, or even at a graduation ceremony. It also applies for Bible readings and when someone says now we will have a moment of silence, which courts will go against also. People feel it is not the government's business to promote religious exercises, since they can easily be pushed upon young students that have to be at school due to their attendance policies. A public school has the responsibility to protect every student. This will include children of various religions, as well as children with no religious faith. This does not mean the school should be disrespectful of the important role religion plays for many students. Courts have made it clear that students should have the right to practice their religion, with some limitations. Students are free to pray, read their Bibles and even invite others to join their religious group as long as they are not disruptive of the school or disrespectful of the rights to the other students. A student should not be allowed to pressure or other kids in or on public school grounds. For example, a student is allowed to pray before meals, read her Bible during study hall, create an art project with a religious theme or invite other students to attend church. These activities are all allowed. In fact, the school might be guilty of violating the student's free speech and free exercise rights if it tried to stop the religious activities. Students have the right to hang out with their friends for prayer and other religious activities within the rules. .For example, students are permitted to gather around the flagpole for prayer before school begins, as many students do occasionally, as long as the event is not sponsored or endorsed by the school and other students are not pressured to attend. like outside adults, generally have no right to pray with or in the presence of students in a public school. (4) As representatives of the state, teachers are under an obligation to protect the rights of all students including non-believers. A teacher who abuses this position of trust may be terminated. Students may also meet for prayer and religious study pursuant to the federal Equal Access Act. If a school permits extracurricular student groups to meet during noninstructional time, this Act requires that religious groups be given equal treatment. Again, the Act does not allow teachers or other adults to lead such meetings.(5) The Act applies only to secondary schools as defined by state law. (See chapter 12 on equal access). The most confusing and controversial part of the current school prayer debate involves graduation prayer. In the 1992 decision Lee v. Weisman , the Supreme Court addressed this issue. The case involved prayers delivered by clergy at middle school commencement exercises in Providence, Rhode Island. The school designed the program, provided for the invocation, selected the clergy and even provided guidelines for the prayer. The Supreme Court held that the practice violated the First Amendment's prohibition against laws respecting an establishment of religion. The Justices based their decision on the fact that (1) it is not the business of schools to sponsor or organize religious activities, and (2) students who might have objected to the prayer were subtly coerced to participate. This coercion was not cured by the fact that attendance at the graduation was voluntary. In the Court's view, few students would want to miss the culminating event of their academic career. For similar reasons, lower courts have struck down invocations at other public school events such as athletic contests.(6) Confusion arose a year later when the Justices refused to grant an appeal in Jones v. Clear Creek Independent School District, a Texas case upholding