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... he words (dc 146). A libertarian stated, There is a huge move toward more religious expression among students during the school day. Schools need to make policies so that people will understand the boundaries (Van Biema 61). There are two documents that protect and limit prayer in public schools. The obvious one would be the Constitution, or the Bill of Rights; the less known one is the Equal Access Act.
This document reads that all federally funded schools have to allow religious meetings if they also host other clubs, not related to the curriculum (Newcomb 1). Contrary to what many think, prayer is, in fact, allowed in the public school system, school houses, at the flag pole, in student religious clubs, and in the cafeteria; however, it is not normally permitted in the class room when class is in session (Religion... 1). The powers that the schools have to enforce these laws are limited though. Schools are not allowed to stop a student from praying, as long as it doesnt disrupt the class, although it touches on the religious beliefs and tolerances of many. (School Prayer... 1). The first amendment requires that public school teachers, principals, and boards be religiously neutral, they may not promote a particular religion as superior to any other (Religion... 1). Schools are also prohibited from many religious related acts, such as: requiring students to recite prayers in class, public prayers at high school games, requiring students to partake in a moment of silence, promoting any one denomination or religion at the expense of another, banning the wearing of religious clothing and symbols, and prayers before education meetings.
It also requires schools to drop a line containing the word God out of the Pledge of Allegiance. Students can, however: Pray before eating, Hand out religious materials, Freely talk about religion to peers, Study the positive / negative effects of religion, Carry Bibles or any other religious text, and they can Organize prayers on school ground, outside of the classroom (Religion... 1). The topic of religion in school is very debatable, and has many journalists, authors, and editors expressing their opinions through publications. There are some very good sources that thoroughly explain the thoughts, debates, and actions of those working for or against the combination of school and state. An article from the Internet entitled Religion in the U. S.
Public Schools is a really helpful source. There are lots of lists of pros and cons, and numerous amounts of reasons why people are pro or anti school and state. It is a great unbiased source. Newcomb's piece, Praying at School, and Riley's piece, Religion and Public Schools, were just as useful, and had a lot of the same information. Van Biema's article, The Day God Took Over, was not very useful at all. The interview conducted with Mr.
Matt Oxford gave an adults intake on the subject. He more or less leaned toward being in favor of religion in school. The survey that was conducted on six-teen tenth grade students at Lincoln High School in Lake City was pretty much varied. Its hard to tell whether or not the students were answering the survey truthfully, or if they were just messing around. Although the survey may not be totally accurate, it does give a pretty good intake on what the students think.
It is pretty hard to thoroughly understand what the students want when only six-teen are surveyed, but, it gives an idea. There was not very much information relevant to the sub-topics of religion in school that I picked. The interview and the survey gave different results than read about in any of the other sources. The information that was acquired from the survey / interview gave personal and group feelings.
It gives more of a local outlook on this topic. No matter what type of media is searched, there will always be new ideas and arguments being published; some sources just are more relevant than others. Religion in public schools (church and state) is a very heated issue that historians believe even Jesus was unsure about. Jesus stated, Thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: For they love to pray standing in synagogues and in corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men... But thou, when thou prayer enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father, which is in secret (Riley 1). Robert Simmonds states, You can only put people under the gun so long, I think we are approaching a national revolt against the government that is unreceptive to its peoples needs, and its childrens futures (Koerner 54).
Through all the arguing and disagreements that are heard over this issue, not many are concerned with what the students want. When asked if they would feel uncomfortable if the school day was started with a group prayer, the six-teen students were pretty much varied. Some would feel uncomfortable, while the same amount on about either other way would not care, or Both the interview and the survey asked approximately the same questions. The questions that were used centered around the opinions and the view points of not only the students but also an adult. The questions that were chosen, were questions that would maybe help to explain and find out exactly how the students feel.
The results seem to have proven that religion in the public schools is somewhat a sore subject that no matter what happens, not everyone will agree whether or not religion should be a part of everyday school life. From the information that was acquired from the survey / interview , it can be said that students are less likely to take religious comments as a threat. Mr. Oxford states, By teaching religion in schools, not only Christianity, mind you, the students learn diversity. Diversity is a necessity in todays world, and this should be looked at as a good thing. It will help if students learn that they will encounter people of other religions in their life, and they will not and should not throw a fit about it.
Some adults are just worried their children will start to contradict them. We need to have a little faith in our children (interview). The separation of church and state is going to continue to be a heated topic until the anand the pro groups dissolve and become one, a group that is looking at the Bibliography: Bibliography Bryce, Robert. To Pray-or Not to Pray. US.
News and World Report. Sept. 13, 1999: p 26. dc Talk and the Voice of the Martyrs. Jesus Freaks. Tulsa: Albury Publishing, 1999. Koerner, Brandon I.
When is it OK to Drop Out of School? US. News and World Report. June 12, 2000: p 54.
Mc Ashland, Norm. Personal interview. Nov. 10, 2000. Newcomb, Amelia. Praying at School. Christian Science: June 16, 1998. (Sept. 23, 2000).
Religion in the US. Public Schools. 1998. (Sept. 23, 2000). Riley, Richard W. Religion and Public Schools. 1998. (Sept. 23, 2000). School Prayer: A Dividing Line of American Values. 1998. (Sept. 23, 2000). Surveys.
Lake City, MN. Nov. 2000. Van Biema, David. The Day God Took Over. Time. June 5, 2000: p 61.
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