Religion

9 Pages 2235 Words

er in school in my case produced an environment of discipline and respect for the teachers. The involvement of my parents and the faculty in the use of prayer was in full agreement. In other words, the faculty and parents helped my fellow classmates and I to get classrooms to hold prayer sessions, brought food and drinks to some of them, and helped us with any problems we might have run into. The simple fact is that for over one hundred years prayer in school has been encouraged by both society and government. Morals must be taught, in school and at home, and they cannot be properly taught without religion as a much needed stepping stone.

Americans should never have to hide their faith, but some Americans, in many cases occurring in school, have been denied the right to express their religion. Students' religious speech and exercise often fail to receive the respect deserved once they are on school grounds. For example, before school, an eighth-grader handed out copies of a religious pamphlet entitled "Issues and Answers;" however, the principal confiscated the pamphlets and ordered her to stop distributing them (Glanzer 220). In this case, which represents only one example of the real-life conflicts that happen every day, Americans' rights are denied, and this is unacceptable. Americans should never be denied their rights to demonstrate free religion. This is another example of how the tyranny of separation of church and state is affecting and hindering innocent Americans.

Prayer and religion clearly have a place in schools. One type of religion that is currently in schools is the moment of silence. This "not quite a prayer" time has been embraced by a growing number of states. As Victoria Irwin states in her article "Prayer (and Giggles) During 'Silent Moment'," "moment of silence" laws have been enacted in 29 states (Irwin 1). The moment of silence is applauded by some as a positive response to the violence and loss of directio...