School Prayer

2 Pages 455 Words

For many years, American public school students have been denied the

right of religious freedom that the Constitution's First Ammendment

established. A section of the First Ammendment reads, "Congress shall make

no law restricting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the exercise

thereof," but yet, court rulings have, in many cases, prohibited students to

take part in certain religious activities. As a result, prayer has been banned

from many public schools throughout the country. Those who are

pro-separation of church and state argue that prayer should be banned from

public schools, but I, being a religious person, believe prayer should be

allowed.


The doctrine of the separation of church and state, as it has been

articulated in the past years by our courts, is an inaccurate misinterpretation

of the Constitution that actually provides the framework for immense

violations of our First Ammendment rights.


The First Ammendment was never meant to eliminate all references to

God and religion from our public life or government. The most certain sign

of the craziness of this doctrine is the fact that the Declaration of

Independence itself can only be taught as a historical artifact rather than as a

living expression of our moral identity as people.


Starting a school day off with a prayer will not harm society. Prayer

may be a way of allowing students to clear their minds. It gives students a

peaceful way to start the day, instead of a teacher having to quiet an annoying

group of students. Prayer does not only help make the transition into

learning smooth, it also helps students resolve personal issues. It gives

students a time every morning when they can think about values and faith to

help them through life. Many students have problems, and prayer gives them

time to think about their issues.


Many ask, "What is...