Prayer In Public Schools
Since the decision in 1962, on taking God out of the classroom, there has been much debate whether prayer in schools should be allowed. Two of America's most valued freedoms are the freedoms of speech and of religion. Because they are such fundamental freedoms in this country, debates over their scope and limitations have often been very impassioned. From teachers being fired for praying with students to students who couldn't give a commencement speech because of it religious overtures, school prayer has been an issue of One such debate is the question of whether or not prayer should be mandated in public schools. This is not merely a religious or educational topic, however; it is also a hotly debated political issue. On one side are conservatives who believe that encouraging prayer will save the nation's morality. On the other are liberals
would impede students' religious rights. "(1) Regardless of the debate, the law already protects students' rights to voluntary prayer in the schools, and any further measures tomandate prayers would be detrimental to the freedoms students should be able to enjoy. I feel that the local community should have the choice on whether their children should be exposed to prayer in a public school versus a church. The only real debate in issue of school prayer is whether the nation will allow the Religious Right to assign its moral obligations. This is the main focus of critics: if the government is to enforce morality, whose moral standards will it enforce? Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, view it differently. I have no doubt that the removing of prayer from the schools back in the 1960s has had a detrimental effect on our society's morality. Their position is that "Church-State separation does not mean hostility toward religion. "Many peoplesee organized prayer in schools as a necessary part of the struggle to curtail violence, drug abuse, and other social ills that plague our nation in general and schools in particular. So if we the society deciede we want ourchildren to be allowed to pray or to be led in prayer at a public school, then we the people should make that decision. Whatever the outcome, the debate will gone on. put it back in the place of prominence and respect it once enjoyed. Rather, it means that the government will remain neutral on religious questions, leaving decisions about God, faith and house of worship attendance in the hands of its citizens.
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