Name
English 1301
Professor Martin
7 April 2008
Prayer in School
Thousands of American soldiers have laid down their lives to earn this country’s freedom. Who knew freedom came with exceptions? Many immigrants sailed to America specifically to flee from religious persecution. America’s founding fathers thought it was necessary to include God on its national currency, while also putting it in the Pledge of Allegiance. Two sides to this issue have very valid points to argue. Prayer in school is currently being debated all over the country. It is important to take a deeper look into the history and court cases concerning this issue. Also, one should consider what the American people say when asked to take a stance on this issue, and many experts believe that religion should be included in the educational process. Separation of Church and State has recently become a hot topic for debate. Historical content, what American as a whole feels is too far and the experts’ opinions on religion in school are all supportable points to argue. Clearly prayer in school is valid for those who choose to have it there.
“Our Nation’s heritage is deeply entwined with religion” (“School” 1). As history proves, many people fled to these shores looking for religious freedom. As we look back into early American literature compared to that of other countries, America was the only one to be completely dominated by religious literature. Writers chose to write about famous preachers and their sermons. Certainly, religion was a major part of our countries heritage. Constitutional drafters guaranteed this right in the First Amendment of the Constitution. The First Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” (“School”1). According to the article, “School Prayer,” the First Amendment can be broken down into two clauses, the “establishment clause” and the “free exercise clause” (2).  The constitution has been so successful because it leaves room for interpretation as times change. While saying that, people see all things differently. Who is to say what is best for each individual? Government does it’s best to do what it thinks is best for the country, and its people. As early as the mid-eighteen hundreds one can see examples of conflict between differing religious views. 
To illustrate this conflict the article, “School Prayer,” describes a riot that broke out in Philadelphia in 1843 and left thirteen people dead and dozens wounded when Roman Catholic parents tried to exempt their children from participating in school-sponsored and protestant-oriented prayer (2). According to Dierfield the Civil War divided the country into two types of people. One type was democratic and God-fearing; the other was communistic and atheistic. This is where one begins to see private schools being built for those who choose to send their children to school where they are being taught specifically about their religion. At this time there was a major need for a universal school system among the states. This also attributed to the secularization of schools. Many states still had laws requiring daily prayers and allowed teachers and administrators the right to sponsor religious activities as they saw appropriate. Schools required daily bible readings for the soul purpose to help young people develop lives of “good moral training,” “honorable thought,” and “good citizenship” (Dierenfield 2). Ask oneself are these bad things?
Initially in the year 1962 school organized prayer and bible readings came to a halt when Engle vs. Vitale was brought before the Supreme Court. The New York state school board composed a twenty-two word prayer that was to be recited each day.  The Supreme Court ruled that this was in violation of the First Amendment’s establishment clause (“School 4”). Also in 1963 it was ruled that not even nondenominational prayer could be promoted by schools. The line had been drawn by the supreme law of the land on the issue of religion in education. 
Never the less “School sponsored” is the major issue at hand especially this day and age. There are more religious denominations in America now than ever before. Such small differences exist between some religions that calling themselves by a denomination or different name is surprising.  I agree that to force children to practice a particular one would infringe on their First Amendment right.  Many children and young adults take on the views of their parents and, as they grow older, they may begin to form their own opinions and beliefs. Education means to learn and to understand. In the same manner, that is what one should do in terms of religion. Teachers and Professors alike should educate their children about the history of religions worldwide. Educating  students gives them the information necessary to make their own decision about how they choose their belief. For example, teachers and professors educate students in an array of subject matters in order to give them the opportunity to later choose for themselves if they would like to go on and pursue a career in that subject matter. Faculty is not in the position to tell them what they must study and how to study it. Faculty must simply educate them. Schools are trying to create well rounded broad-thinking individuals. How can they do that if they are not giving the students all of the information for fear of offending atheists? In order for the religious supporters to have a voice they must utilize their ability to elect government officials to represent them. 
	As a matter of fact, America was built on the idea that the people have the power to directly influence those who lead them. It is through the people’s vote that their voice is heard. In a democratic society the majority rules the vote. This is true in politics and policies around the country. Politicians try to recruit voters who support his/her ideas for that soul reason. In a study conducted by two North Carolina State University students, the question was asked, “Would Americans support organized prayer in school along with the theory of creationism being taught in the public school system?” (Hoban 1).  The Students, Eric Woodrum and Thomas Hoban, performed a telephone survey in 1992 of the state of North Carolina. Both students went to extreme circumstances to survey people from all walks of life for an accurate representation of the American people as a whole. As Woodrum states in his findings, “There is widespread support for prayer in public schools and the teachings of creationism should receive equal weight with the theory of evolution.” So if our country is truly democratic, and the majority rules, then why are the American people not given a voice in this matter? Why not let states decide for themselves? Students are being silenced because of the agenda of the few. 
For this reason, high school students in Virginia have taken it upon themselves to include everyone in their decision to pray at their graduation. Brad Lucas was the Valedictorian of his graduating class. As such, he was to speak to his fellow students at the graduation ceremony. Lucas wanted his fellow students to be heard and took a vote whether or not a prayer should be conducted at their ceremony. Therefore, he ended his speech with a prayer about the future and about courage. The student body agreed that a prayer would appropriate. In 1992 the Supreme Court decision in the Lee vs. Weisman case barred schools from inviting guests to deliver prayers at Commencement exercises (Jost1). He, being a student and not a guest, was entitled to deliver this speech based on the fellow student’s votes as well as his own personal thoughts. However, this year a federal Judge ruled that student prayers violated the “Constitutional prohibition against governmental establishment of religion just as much as school sponsored prayer would” (Jost1).  If America is truly democratic and the people have the power, then why are Americans being silenced by the few who disapprove of prayer? If majority does not rule, then neither does the people.  How can a student’s disapproval of a religious act force the majority of others to be unheard? This does not seem fair in the eyes of believers, those who practice in some type of religion. Many people believe that the government should take a neutral stance on this issue instead of trying to control it. Some could call this a form of religious persecution on the Governments part. Christians are not forcing anyone to pray, they simply want to practice what they believe. Jost states that, “regardless of the Court’s decision, over two-thirds of schools polled last year included prayer in their graduation ceremonies”(2). The Constitution is a guide for Americans and it’s chosen leaders to adhere to. Many people use the Constitution and manipulate it for their own personal agendas
	In fact, there is two sides to this controversial issue. There are those who belive we need religion in our public school system, and those who think we need a stricter separation of religion and education. Both sides have many experts with very valid points to argue. Organizations such as the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the People for the American Way strongly support the Supreme Court’s decisions. These organizations represent those who feel their rights have been violated. Most of the time it is the parent who thinks it is necessary to take a stand and not the student. Additionally, Madalyn Murray O’Hair was the first women to publicly speak out against her seventh grade son participating in daily bible readings and prayers in a Baltimore public school (DelFattore 53). Her son William now a born again Christian and a leading school prayer advocate, claims he was used as a tool of his mother’s hostility toward religion (DelFattore 53). As we see sometimes parents don’t have their children’s best interests in mind. 
On the other hand conservatives who disagree with the Court’s decision have noticed that the power is being held in political offices. The “Religious Right” to use Jost’s term has recognized the common agreements and aligned itself closely with the Republican Party (Jost 3). As a result, religious conservatives are now turning to the local school board election races and have helped to elect fundamentalist Christians to school board seats in a number of states (Jost 3).  Jost also quotes Robert Simonds, the founder and president of Citizens for Excellence in Education, who states “Every day, Christian children all across America are quietly sitting in their public school chairs being subjected to a subtle but systematic mind-altering and faith-destroying curriculum” (Jost 3). This is a very powerful statement for the religious advocates to sit back and do nothing about. Many religious supporters also believe that less attention is given to religion in courses such as history or literature where religion has always played an undeniable role. On that note, they also believe that schools have given little attention to teaching values to students. Educators should give their students the correct information and the facts behind different religious beliefs to keep them from being mislead or misinformed. 
Equally important, The First Amendment leaves many to speculate and to argue over this issue. The First Amendment also creates conflicting ideas, and confuses many people. Religious advocates argue that the free-exercise clause requires the government to accommodate religious observances in public life. However, Civil liberties groups say that the establishment clause mandates a stricter separation of Church and State.The term Seperation of Church and State is used but not written or required by the Constitution.  They can see where one might not want their child to be exposed to a religion that they might not agree with. It is apparent this it is up to the individual to participate in what he or she may choose. Therefore, the education institutions should take a completely neutral stance. Supporters can worship as they please and so can the students who may choose not to.
 Furthermore, educators should not be allowed to bring their personal beliefs into the classroom unless they are asked by the students to do so. For instance, college professors have the ability to mold growing minds. As such, professors should be required to teach the required curriculum without clouding it with their own opinion. In this regard, the ACLU made a video in the early nineties using a North Carolina minister to deliver a message that parents, not schools, should be responsible for youngsters’ religious upbringing (Jost 5). The right for institutions to require students to recite prayer and participate in religious activities has already been taken away. All the religious supporters are asking for is their right to exercise freedom of speech. College students are now given the right to miss class to observe their religious holidays. As a result religious supporters feel they are being persecuted. 
Along those lines, if citizens of this great country can burn the American flag and publicly make a mockery of the President, then why can prayers not be conducted in schools? On the other hand, prayer seems like such an insignificant issue compared to the major issues such as world hunger.  America has to learn to choose its battles. Instead of making a big issue such as prayer at school, why not choose to focus on the ones that bring the country down and keep American from growing? Why not do what is best for the greater good? After all, ethics and morals are something that this country desperately needs. Religion in education could do no worse than what television and internet have done to the youth of America. As a matter of fact, both of these technologies have brought in sex, and violence into the home of millions of Americans. Something has to be done to combat the declining moral value of Americas next generation. 
	It is interesting to see how beliefs have changed over time. The verdicts of those early court cases have shaped America’s education system. Organizations such as the ACLU continue to take it further until they have completely remove religion from this great countries heritage.  People will have to decide if they want their children to grow up with a biased public education system or one that teaches every subject including religion, equally. Prayer in public schools is just the tip of the iceberg. The most recent issues such as the argument of “In God We Trust” being taken off the currency, and  “Under God” being taken out of the pledge of allegiance. The separation of Church and State will always be a controversial issue in America. One might try to please everyone, but the matter of the fact is that it cannot be done. America has to choose to listen to the majority of its citizens and stand behind them. The Government must stand behind the Founding Fathers’ beliefs including religion. It is time to take a stand no matter where one’s loyalties lie. America is the dream of hope for many people, and the land of opportunity and equality. One would hope that it will stay that way. Young people going through the public educational system are the future of this country. Why would the American people want to prohibit them from learning about things that will make them an all around better person? America needs to take a deeper look into instilling moral values and ethics into the next generation. By in large, what are we going to do about? It is time to be held accountable for what we teach our young people. The question is what are you going to do about it as an individual?

Works Cited

DelFattore, Joan. The Fourth R: Conflicts Over Religion in America's Public Schools. 2004. R. R. Donnelley, n.d.
Dierenfield, Bruce J. 'The Most Hated Women in America': Madalyn Murray and her Crusade Against School Prayer. Balckwell, n.d. EBSCOhost. Collin College. 21 Apr. 2008 <http://web.ebscohost.com.library.ccccd.edu/ehost/>. 

"Free Speech." ACLU.Org. 4 Apr. 2008 <http://www.aclu.org/freespeech/index.html>.
Jost, K. (1994, Feb. 18). Religion in schools. CQ Researchers, 4, 145-168. Retrieved 
	March 25, 2008, CQ Researcher Online, 
	<http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher>.
“School Prayer.” Issues & Controversies On File 7 Sep. 2001. Issues & Controversies. 
	Facts On File News Service.CCCCD library Plano, Texas. 25 Mar. 2008
 <http://www.2facts.com>.
Woodrum, Eric and Thomas Hoban. Sociological Analysis, Vol. 53, No. 3, Monopolism 
	and Pluralism in American Religion and Society. Jstor. (Autumn, 1992):  309-
	321. CCCCD Lib., Plano, Texas. 24 Mar. 2008 <http://links.jstor.org>.