Prayer in Public Schools

The United States has continued to be a country where religion plays a major role in the lives of American citizens. Depending on the type of school students attend, organized prayer is mandatory, allowed, or banned. In the United States, organized prayer in public schools is prohibited because it goes against the Constitution’s separation of church and state (Jinkins 123). The United States promises religious freedom, but is yet to define the degree and limitation of that liberty. However, American citizens have been debating for many years, whether organized prayer should be an option or obligation in public schools. Some people believe that organized prayer or religious classes would be a benefit to young people and should be allowed in American public schools. Others: however, see this as an affront to the First Amendment and believe that religion does not belong in the classroom, and should never be permitted under any circumstances.

Supporters of organized prayer believe the school day should not just revolve around training the student’s mind academically, but also spiritually. “Far more than the mere teaching of facts, true education concerns itself with establishing beliefs and values” (Salter 176). Many supporting citizens of organized prayer believe religion can help better a student by their educational potentials, level of education achieved, and attendance. Students who are raised under religious families will have a stronger attitude towards school. Parents who raise their children with a religious foundation want public schools to reinforce and model moral values taught at home (Haynes and Berkowitz 144). Having organized prayer allows religion to set morals and instruct discipline giving students a stronger ou...

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