Poll: Are you in favor of school prayer?

[Ladi]

I believe that the "moment of silence" is a good approach to prayer in the schools. This allows students to pray if they wish, to meditate if they wish, to simply reflect upon the upcoming day/event if they wish, or simply to learn to be quiet for a few moments as a sign of respect towards others' beliefs. [edit] I don't believe people are reading this clearly. A 30-second "moment of silence" does not even have to be overtly religious or a prayer of any type. An atheistic or agnostic student is certainly free to just use the time as a few moments of "down time" to simply think about what needs to be done that day or anything else on their mind. In fact, this approach is common in many schools after a major (especially tragic) event; is there something wrong with spending less than a minute of a day thinking about something? Many schools have ~10-15 minutes set aside for the pledge of allegiance, morning announcements, and otherwise free time...it doesn't detract from the school day and it doesn't force students to pray...only give a reprieve before a hectic day.[/edit]

As far as student groups/activities that are religious...those should be student-initiated and student-run. That's not to say that faculty advisors should be prohibited, but that they shouldn't take an active role in creating the group. [edit]And these should be run as all other student activities -- without interference into the regular school day.[/edit]

Prayers at graduations/games/etc I believe can be handled with respect for all, not violate the separation of church and state, and be a part of First Amendment free speech rights. The important thing here, in my opinion, is to choose a non-denominational prayer and have it again student-initiated and student-led, preferably with the opinions of the entire student body taken into account.

~Ladi

 

[Aihyah]

a momment of silence is a waste of time, you don't need to officially sanction religious time. Kids have always been able to pray in school, do you really need a long time to pray? You can bow your head and have your silent prayer while the teacher hands out the test.. i'm sure that happens everyday. On the playground, wherever you want. Its an absurd arguement. Prayer is between you and your god, it need not be a group thing for validation. Not to mention the momment of silence doesn't do much for buddists or athiests, and agnostics who think god wouldn't give a $hit.

Its basically a false argument.

 

[Raspewtin]

I am totally against it. They can pray in their heads, out loud, or whatever, but kids can make their own time to pray, and don't need to be cojoled and directed by the teacher like stupid dogs. Teachers already have to be teachers, psychologists, parents, babysitters, and displinarians. They don't need to be ministers also. Let's do at least a little of our own parenting.

 

[Zenmervolt]

I don't care what the students do on their own time (ie. at lunch, on recess), but there should not be any time taken away from the school day for prayer. A five minute "moment of silence" is five minutes in which a teacher can be teaching something. Teachers are already forced to cram too much into a school day (students must use computers, teacher must teach children about sex because the parents are afraid to, &c.) No more time needs to be wasted. Besides, even though a "moment of silence" is non-denominational, it can still be construed as an endorsement of any type of theism, which would place pressure on an atheistic / agnostic student. Viper GTS is right about the wording of the Constitution, but the current legal prescidents (sp?) are against anything that can be construed as an endorsement of religion, remember that the USSC is the final arbiter as to what the Constitution means. So with the current judicial thought I do believe that school prayer is something that would not be upheld in court.

Zenmervolt

 

[Thorn]

Absolutely should be allowed, but not lead by the teachers (not because they're state employees, but because they may intentionally or unintentionally show bias towards one religious group over another). If some kids want to pray on their own, it's noone else's business.


<< Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; >>


If a person wants to pray but you don't let them, you're breaking the law. or prohibiting the free exercise thereof... seems to be pretty clear to me.

 

[BoberFett]

Thorn and Napalm have the right idea. Those of you who seem to think prayer at school should be outlawed are seriously fscked in the head.

 

[Scabilian]

ever since they have removed prayer and or God from schools our education system and nation has been on a decline...
the only thing that is keeping this nation on top is that it was founded on God look at the nations who founded themselves on other things


i feel some ranting and raving about to come forth ... time to stop

 

[BoberFett]

Bzzzzz. Wrong answer.

Prayer should not be encouraged in school as that would be violating the first amendment. Prayer should also not be abolished in school because that would be violating the first amendment. Simple, no?

 

[charrison]

It should be left up to locals to decide how they want their school run. Once again, this is not the federal govts business.

Remember we have freedom OF religion here, not freedom FROM religion.

 

[Aihyah]

Scablian,


decline? Since when? I guess you'd like to go back to the good old days(which don't exist). Maybe you have rose colored glasses on but there were none. Go back a little and we do have prayer in schools, but we also beat the darkies, exploit chinks and women.

Remember it was only recently that we slapped in god we trust on our money etc.

 

[RJRD2]

hell no..if you want to pray go to church..

 

[Aihyah]

besides, whats with the sudden need to pray in school? Why? can't pray at home before and after you go to school? in the car in the bus? Where in the bible does it say that its very important for children to pray together at school? and when your forced to pray.. why bother, what are you really going to pray about? Doing well on your test?

 

[toph99]

if you wish to pray during school, by all means do it, but you don't need any sanctioned time to do it in. i have several friends of different religions(from Hindu to Christian) and they always find time to pray in our school, without any special time set aside. if there was, what would the rest of us do? sit there and twiddle our thumbs? there is plenty of time when you can pray and such during the day, it isn't like there is a lack of free time during the day. i am in Canada btw, so all that Amendment stuff doesn't do a thing for me

 

[bonk102]

no, we go to school to learn about other religions, not be subjected to their teachings

 

[gunf1ghter]

Allowing Prayer in school does nothing other than try to force students to adopt a &quot;state sanctioned&quot; religion.

For those who have other beliefs or non-beliefs they get to be ridiculed or harassed by those who are believers.

This might be less of an issue in more progressive schools that have a diversity of students, but would be a real issue in certain schools that have 80-90% of the constituents labeling themselves &quot;Christian&quot;.

 

[Aihyah]

again, you have to restate that. its not allowing prayer in school.. prayer is/has and will always be ok in school. Its state sanctioned prayer(momment of silence) that is not allowed.

 

[Scabilian]

when is prayer the same as church?

 

[vi edit]

Depends upon what you mean by &quot;school prayer&quot;. If there is a &quot;personal reflection&quot; time for a couple minutes at some point in the day, and as long as everything was done silently, then I don't see any problems with.

Now, if a teacher went the the front of the class and started to lead a rosary chant, I would have a problem with that.

As long as it was done quietly, considerately, and responsibly I wouldn't have any problem with it.

 

[gunf1ghter]

vi_edit

You hit it right on the head. the problem is that many schools who have started out with this &quot;moment of silence&quot; have had it subverted to allow for a verbal &quot;leading of prayer&quot;. Again, this is peer pressure to try to get everyone to adopt the same religion as that which the school administrators believe in. That's f*cking un-American.

There was also the case of school prayers at football games. These were led by members of the student body and were with almost no exception Christian prayers. How are you going to feel being asked to bow your head in Christian prayer if you are a Muslim, Budhist, Agnostic or Atheist?

 

[JellyBaby]

I like the &quot;moment of personal reflection&quot; idea. Give the kids time to quiet their thoughts and prepare for the day. What they do in that time is up to them. Some may pray, some will think about their study plan for the day, others will make farting noises.

As much as I've hated the &quot;de-traditionalizing&quot; of public schools in the last 10-20 years I realize public education and organized religion are two separate beasts.

Another thing: nobody's mentioned parents yet. I say if parents are concerned with the spiritual needs of their kids they may introduce them to religion. Sundays are good days for that if you're a christian. But school is really for secular studies.

 

[nippyjun]

No prayer should be allowed during regularly scheduled class times. That's separation of church and state. And I mean this for public school. In private school they can do whatever they want. I don't mind prayer in school if it is not during school hours. A prayer club or something like that is fine. Personally I'm a non-believer and think that praying is really a waste of time but if it doesn't interfere with public school class time, and the people who are doing it find that they get something out of it then by all means pray away.... Don't forget to say a prayer for us non-believers while you are at it!

 

[Elita1]

Boberfett makes a point.

My answer would be yes and no, depending on the school and the people who send their children there.

 

[SuperTool]

No way. Pray all you want at home, but not in publically funded schools. No promoting religion on my tax dollar. It is not going to prevent Columbine. I think it's only going to make students more divided, and make it worse. I am sure the only Moslem or Jewish kid in a school is going to feel weird with all the Christians praying around him.
On a much brighter note, by 7 to 3 decision, Kansas resumed evolution.

 

[BoberFett]

<< Allowing Prayer in school does nothing other than try to force students to adopt a &quot;state sanctioned&quot; religion. >>



<< No prayer should be allowed during regularly scheduled class times. >>



<< Pray all you want at home, but not in publically funded schools. >>



<< no, we go to school to learn about other religions, not be subjected to their teachings >>

Yes sir, Mr Fascist sir.

You want to abolish prayer in school? Should we abolish anything that doesn't have 100% agreement among constituents in schools? Some of you are so over the top in interpreting the first amendment it's almost scary.

 

[WishMaster]

no sir!