NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
A very controversial widespread issue today is the right to have prayer in public schools. The proposed amendment reads: To secure the peoples right to acknowledge God according to the dictates of conscience. The peoples rights to pray and to recognize their belief, heritage or traditions on public property, shall not be infringed. The government shall not require any person to join in the prayer or religious activity, initiate or designate school prayers, discriminate against any religion, or deny equal access to benefit on account of religion. (AVSP) This would permit but not mandate school prayer. I think that the government should be focused on the schools academics, not what religion they are to study.
The proposed amendments would cause nothing but trouble considering that there would be many arguments on what beliefs should be taught. Religion is private and schools are public. Having any prayer in school goes against the basis in which our country was formed upon. America came into being because colonists wanted religious freedom. Our founding fathers carefully wrote the constitution to grant the freedom of separation of church and state. A prayer created and supported by a government violate the very essence of the spirit in which the US was formed. (Haas 35) Therefore, having a prayer in school would be unconstitutional.
A radical school prayer amendment would attack the heart and soul of the bill of rights which safeguards the rights of the individual from tyranny of the individual. (Jasper 96) Teachers are public employees, paid by the taxpayers. The time it takes to recite a prayer is an expenditure of tax dollars. (Haas 36) This is a violation of the separation of church and state. This whole issue is a big waste of time because students do have the right to pray at school. No one can stop them from praying individually, silently, or personally. this right has never, and could never be outlawed. The real motive is to install group prayer. (The Case Against School Prayer) I feel that the school day is not that long, and that if one feels obligated to express their beliefs in a group, there is plenty of time after school.
There are so many things that could be argued in this amendment. If passed it would be a never ending war of religious beliefs. Oppressors to the amendment view that since education is mandatory, how can public schools impose one religious prayer on all students? (New American Coalition) If a religion was brought into the classroom, it would build walls for children who are not aware of religious differences. (Case Against School Prayer) Public school districts are made of many different types of people with many different religious beliefs. Students would not be forced to pray but the minority would feel singled out. (Jasper 108) Many religious people are against this proposed amendment.
In reality, the only way to make people of different religious beliefs feel comfortable would be to make the prayers cross cultural. However, any watered down prayer would result in the deeply religious finding it meaningless, and an infringement on students who follow no religion. (Democratic Alliance for Action) ) Even religious Christians oppose the amendment. They say that the bible warns against public prayer. And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners, but when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray... (Bible) In conclusion, this issue of school prayer could never be passes.
It is unconstitutional and would deny the United States of America its most cherished characteristic, freedom. There are many ways that this problem can be solved for those who argue and worry about it. These people can either send their kids to a private school that will help them to learn their particular religious belief on an everyday basis, teach their children after school, or form prayer groups at their own private homes. 1. The Bible. Matthew 6: 5 - 6. 2. Concentric. (1999).
Religious Freedom Amendment. [World Wide Web] Available: web 3. Democratic Alliance for Action. (1997). Bible Believers Should Oppose Available: web 4. Freethought. The Case Against School Prayer. (1999) [World Wide Web] Available: web 5.
Haas, Carol. Engle v. Vitale. New York: Enslow; 1994. 6. Jasper, Margaret C. Religion and the Law.
New York: Oceana, 1998. 7. New America Coalition. school Prayer. [World Wide Web] Available: web Bibliography:
Free research essays on topics related to: religious beliefs, school prayer, religious freedom, prayer in school, separation of church and state
Research essay sample on Prayer In School Separation Of Church And State
