Our father which art in heaven hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever, Amen. About thirty-nine years ago children in the public schools prayed this prayer every morning and read Scripture aloud before the start of class. Why are students not allowed to do this today? On June 17, 1963, the Supreme Court of the United States kicked reverential Bible reading and prayer recitation out of schools (school prayer Decision).
A woman by the name of Madalyn Murray OHair began legal proceedings in 1959 (Murray vs. Curlett) to obtain justice for her son who was enrolled in a public school that participated in Bible reading and unison prayers. The removal of prayer from the public school system has raised a lot of controversy in the past thirty or so years, especially in the last decade. This issue has not just caused an argument among Christians and Atheists; it has sparked attention throughout all religious groups in the United States. There are many more arguments against school prayer than there are for it. However, even though the anti-prayer group has a greater quantity of arguments, the pro-prayer group has better quality arguments.
The Essay on Study about School Uniforms in Public Schools in California
Throughout the state of California, the disputes continue over whether school uniforms have a place in the public school system and whether there are positive results to wearing school uniforms. The public school uniform conflict has not only been discussed within each school, but also on television, radio and even within the judicial system.One of the most promising arguments against wearing ...
Therefore, pro-prayer has a stronger claim but it has yet to influence the Supreme Court justices. Advocating school prayer can be done in a variety of ways including first amendment rights, the nations history, and supporting a new amendment. This country was built on the foundation of a Supreme Being by its Founding Fathers. However, over the years, specifically in the 1990s, it has become unpopular to advocate traditional Christian values. Some school districts in some states are trying to defend these values while the Supreme Court is infringing on peoples rights as citizens issued to them by the First Amendment. A court case that exhibits the Supreme Courts violation of religious rights is the Santa Fe Independent School District vs.
Jane Doe in Texas. In the summer of 2000, the Supreme Court ruled that prayer does not belong in the public schools, even if the students initiate and lead the prayers. The panel of nine judges decided that public schools cannot allow student-led prayer before high school football games. The Court claims that the decision reinforces the wall between church and state constructed by the First Amendment. Obviously, they have forgotten that the First Amendment also includes rights to freedom of religion and speech. They have taken these freedoms from high schools students as if they are not really citizens. Justice John Paul Stevens made a statement for the majority vote in the case. He said: We recognize the importance that public worship plays in many communities, as well as the sincere desire to include public prayer as a part of various occasions so as to mark those occasions significance.
But such religious activity in public schools, as elsewhere, must comport with the First Amendment. (Chebium) This may be true, but the First Amendment holds contradictions within itself. As mentioned above, disallowing student-led prayer is a violation of the students freedom of religion and speech while, at the same time; it is enforcing the church and state clause. High school students are getting involved with these cases and some are standing up for their rights without fear. Langston Hughes talks about this in his poem Freedoms Plow. He emphasizes the struggle to enjoy the freedoms that he knows are rightfully his. He reflects the American desire for freedom when he says, I do not need my freedom when Im dead.
The Essay on Home School vs. Public School 3
Schooling is an important decision in educating children. In today’s world more and more families are choosing to home school their children. While there are advantages and disadvantages to both options. The major factors in deciding which option is best are the learning environment, the curriculum, and meeting the needs of the child or children. Advantages: Home School Learning environment. ...
I cannot live on tomorrows bread. He recognizes the need for freedom in it entirety without compromise or fear. (Pahl) Students are connecting with what Hughes has written and they are butting heads with the Supreme Court, without fear, about allowing them to pray in their schools. Hughes shares his desire to be totally free with Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who spoke for those that were in disagreement with the majority vote in the case. But even more disturbing than its holding is the tone of the Courts opinion; it bristles with hostility to all things religious in public life. Neither the holding nor the tone of the opinion is faithful to the meaning of the Establishment Clause, Rehnquist wrote, noting that the nations first president, George Washington, himself had called for a day of public thanksgiving and prayer.
(Chebium) The facts surrounding the nations history are good points to make in favor of prayer in schools. Religion and prayer were a big part of the lives of this countrys ancestors. The fact that the Founding Fathers believed devotedly that there was a God and that the unalienable rights of man were rooting in Him is clearly evidenced in their writings, from the Mayflower Compact to the Constitution itself (School Prayer Decision).
The text from the Mayflower Compact proves the Founding Fathers ideas: In ye name of God, Amen. We whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread sovereign Lord, King James, by the grace of God Another aspect that proves that the government was built on God and Christianity is shown through the nations early laws: In the 17th century, most American colonies supported official religions with public revenues, and laws required residents to attend church services (School Prayer Decision).
Prayer in school is not allowed and yet in almost every aspect of government Christianity is exercised in the belief of a Supreme Being. The background is evidenced today in our public life through the continuance in our oaths of office from the Presidency to the Alderman of the final supplication, So help me God. Likewise each House of Congress provides through its Chaplain an opening prayer, and the sessions of this Court are declared open by the crier in a short ceremony, the final phrase of which invokes the grace of God.
The Essay on School Prayer Pray Bible Religion
School Prayer By Danielle Clark Block 1 Speech 105 I. Intro- Contrary to the claims, students have the Constitutional right to pray in school, either individually or in informal groups so long as the prayer is not organized by the school. But if the students only knew what they were really doing by praying in school. II. First of all they are going against the Bible. As to quote, Matthew 6: 5-6: " ...
Again there are such manifestations in our military forces, where those of our citizens are under the restrictions of military service wish to engage in voluntary worship. (The Debate).
The government runs the school systems, so why should schools not have the same privileges that they have? The majority of people living in this country are living with some type of faith in a higher being as proved by a survey conducted last year by the Bureau of the Census, US Department of Commerce, Statistical Abstract of the United States. The surveys outcome totaled 64% of the American people having church membership, 33% having no membership but having religious background, and only 3% professed no religion whatsoever (Clemens).
Another way to advocate school prayer would be ….
