IS IT LEGAL TO PRAY IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS?
             "Is it legal to pray in public schools?"This is the question. The answer, of course is, "It depends." Both on what kind of prayer we are talking about, and more importantly, who is doing the praying. Because people are usually talking about organized classroom prayer, we will begin our there.
             The Supreme Court has made clear that prayers organized by a public school violate the First Amendment, whether in the classroom, over the p-a system, or even at graduation. The same rule applies whether the activity is prayer or reading the bible. Even moments of silence, if used to promote prayer, aren't allowed by the courts. A "neutral" moment of silence that does not encourage prayer over any other quiet activity is allowed, even though many students choose to use the time for prayer. The bottom line is, the Court has said that it is none of its business to promote or sponsor religious exercises, especially among young students who are at school as a result of their parents or being made to be there by the govt. Public schools have the responsibility to protect the thoughts of every student. This includes children of various religious faiths, as well as those of no religious faith. Only by being neutral can the school be fair to all. This doesn't mean schools don't allow students to be religious; they're just not going to force it. Generally, individual students are free to pray, read their Bibles and even invite others to join their particular religious group as long as they are not disruptive of the school or disrespectful of the rights of other students. A student should not be allowed to pressure others in a public school. For example, a student may wish 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.
             In addition, students have the right to gather with their fellow students for prayer ...