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Education One of the biggest legal issues that some American schools face nowadays is when childrens parents complain about such schools non-compliance with constitutional principle of separation between Church and State. In 1994, the mother of five children Lisa Herdahl has filed a lawsuit against Pontotoc County School District, for having their kids forced to participate in Christian activities in North Pontotoc Attendance Center. Apparently, in this school, students were beginning each day with a student-led prayer, which was broadcasted over school intercom system. Mrs. Herdahl has pointed out that such practice is grossly unconstitutional, nevertheless, her plea was being ignored and she had no other choice but pursue a legal charges against those who strive for nothing else but corrupting young children with sick Christian morality, contrary to the will of their parents.
In 1996 Federal Judge Neal Bigger's issued an order to discontinue intercom prayers in Pontotoc County public schools. Also, there was an investigation in North Pontotoc Attendance Center, which found that the principal himself was responsible for pushing religion down the childrens throats. Nevertheless, some teachers were still trying to instill children with religion during the school hours, even though that they understood that this might result in legal consequences. That is why the teaching practices in this particular school were being widely criticized across the nation. In present time, the policymakers in North Pontotoc Attendance Center have finally decided to respect the Constitution of United States, by forbidding any religious practices, on the part of students, while theyre at school. The Bible thumper's in Small Town did not like this decision and there were even a few Christian public protests, which took place immediately after the Courts decision was being announced.
But it was only a matter of time before promoters of good news realized that the laws in this country apply to them as well The example of North Pontotoc Attendance Center shows us that educational conflicts on the ground of religion can be resolved quite easily. The best way to assert peoples compliance with the idea of separation between Church and the State is when their attempts to ignore this principle in the field of public education will result in severe punishment. It is very symbolic that after banning the prayers in North Pontotoc Attendance Center, the students grades have considerably improved. Religious parents in Pontotoc County School District complain that now their rights are being violated. But this is untrue they can still have their children attending private Christian schools.
Even in public schools such children can pray all they want, for as long as they keep it to themselves. Important is not to impose ones secular views upon others. It is fact that in many American public schools some teachers, as well as students, try to promote their particular religious views, instead of concentrating on their primary duties. This poses a great danger to the educational process, but we cannot consider it as being a truly complicated legal issue.
Even in schools like North Pontotoc Attendance Center, where children were being required to pray by principal, eliminating religious practices should not involve bringing the case to the court. Instead, the Federal government needs to establish a religion watch task force, which would inspect public schools across America on regular basis. And if a slightest violation of American constitutional principles is being found, it should result in pressing criminal charges against those who violate the First Amendment in public schools. Although, there were suggestions that religious parents should be able to have their children praying before classes in schools closed facilities, I think that this would create a dangerous precedent.
Therefore, the solution to this problem lies strictly within the authority of the law. Bibliography: Herdahl vs. Pontotoc County School (1999). School Prayer Site. Retrieved March 27, 2005 from web Levendovsky, C. Mother Fights Religious Coercion (August 27, 1995).
First Amendment Public Tribune. Retrieved March 27, 2005 from web Student Bible Club Banned. (2003). Christian Law Association. Retrieved March 27, 2005 from web
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Research essay sample on Religious Practices Public Schools
