Do you think prayer should be brought back into schools?

Actually, the last time I checked most schools had a "moment of silence" right after they did the pledges. I know mine did. I suppose some schools may have done away with it, but I know many still use it. Furthermore, while I have no problem with a student praying, there should be no school led prayers. I believe school led prayers are unnecessary and unconstitutional.

There have always been alot of different religions and it never interfered with any of the various beliefs. All that was ever offered was the Lord's Prayer and yes, I think it is time for America to wake up and see just what taking prayer out of the schools has done. Prayer gives kids the opportunity to feel calm and feel loved. It helps the lonely not feel so alone. I dont think that bible study should be part of the classes but I do think that the pledge of alligence and prayer should both be offered at the beginning of each day

That could also be called study hall. I'm sorry but do you "have" to have time set asside for it? From what I understand you should be able to pray anytime anyplace. Do we have to actually set aside school time when kids should be learning for meditation & prayer? Would your boss like it if you stoped working while on the clock to meditate? Thats something that can be done during free time. I have nothing aginst prayer and meditation but there's a time and place for it and I don't feel schooltime is one of those.

I still remember being smacked in front of the whole school on my first day for not bowing my head to pray to the Christian God with the rest of the school. I'd never prayed before, I had no idea that "let us pray" meant bow your head and fawn before a God you don't beleive in. it wasn't even a Church School. to be honest, looking back, as I'm only 26 I don't even think hitting me was legall. even if it was, it definitely wasn't called for. I wasn't being disruptive, just sitting quietly with my back straight. having said that, throughout my school life I NEVER allowed them to force me to bow to their God. after all, I'd never force someone else to bow to mine. I agree that there should be a moment of reflection, so people of any or no religion can take a quiet moment to collect themself and think about whatever they need to at that time. you could pray, meditate, or just relax a bit before the school day kicks off.

No, I don't think prayer should be brought back into schools. Such a practice violates the 1st amendment which states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion..." Because school is compulsory and in part federally funded using schools to indoctrinate students in a dominant religion is unconstitutional. I think even the "moment of silence" is a questionable practice because it serves no real purpose other than bring religion into the classroom. There are plenty of spontaneous moments of silence during an average schoolday for those who feel the need of them.

In my opinion, if I am a teacher and teaching in America as a christian I would still practise bringing prayer in schools. Even if there are several religions, it is important for a christian to practise the faith not just in private but also in the public. This way others can understand the difference between each beliefs and in a way be respecting others too.

A moment of silence isn't a bad thing, as long as it is explained in a way that doesn't make kids who don't pray feel like lesser beings. For all you school prayer, in god we trust advocates, please join me in a little exercise in imagination..... It is 2075, and the U.S. has had a dramatic demographic shift since the turn of the 21st century. The emergence of the new Prophet of Islam, with his message of peace, has triggered a massive wave of conversion, and for the first time, white Christians are a distinct minority in America. An Islamic President is in the White House, and he has set forth a plan to make the U.S. a more godly nation. To begin, every child must follow the Muslim schedule of prayer. Even during school, at the appointed hours, the children must kneel facing east and bow to Mecca. This is OK, even with Christians, because prayer belongs in school. Children who do not follow this are ostracized, made fun of, even punished. How do you, evangelical Christian who's child won't bow to what you believe is a false god, feel about this? What do you do?

There are no laws prohibiting the free practice of religion anywhere. What the law prohibits is compulsory participation in said practice within the secular framework of public schools. No child is forbidden to pray on his own if s/he is motivated to do so. As such, the concept of bring prayer back into the schools has always bewildered me, mostly because to the best of my knowledge the only thing that isn't "allowed" in terms of praying within the public school system is making it mandatory and/or faculty led. In fact, I remember when I was in school, we were given a "moment of silent meditation" after the Pledge of Allegiance every morning, and I had more than a handful of friends who took that time to say the Shema or the Lords Prayer under their breath. I also had Muslim friends in highschool who would seek a hall pass so they could step out and face East when they prayed at the appropriate times during the day. It would have been a violation of their freedom of religion for the school to have prevented, reprimanded or otherwise disciplined them for having done so, and it would remain as much today. Likewise, it would be a violation of a Muslim, Hindu, or Jewish student's freedom of religion if it were compulsory to recite the Lord's Prayer in a public school setting. That isn't at all the same as not allowing prayer in school, though, and it isn't even a subtle difference. If, as a parent, one wants their children exposed to more formalized prayer in school, it really is best to seek the options available through privatized education. It's a more expensive solution, to be sure, but it's a solution that doesn't infringe on anyone's rights. So long as we live in a free world, that's the most important thing.

I DO think prayer should be brought back into schools and anyplace else it has been removed from. Remember our Pledge of Allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United Stated of America, to the republic for which it stand, One nation, UNDER GOD,..... While I know that part of the statement wasn't added until the middle 50s, it's still what our country was based on. Freedom of Religion. For those who believe in prayer, each morning, much like 'Prayer Around the Flagpole', schools would do well to offer a general meeting place like the auditorium for everyone who wanted to meet and agree in prayer. Taking it out all together is one of the things that has hurt our children. The fact that there are so many religions shouldn't effect our basic beliefs. While allowing each one to practice what they beleive, our 'freedom to express what we believe' is in many cases, been taken away from us to make way for a less offensive nation. Much the same as our official language has been downgraded. I for one, am against anybody or anything that says we can't pray where ever we decide we need to or want to. To make it an offense to how others believe makes it an offense to God. That's must my opinion. We have become to worried about offending others while loosing our core values.

I think the world would be a better place if people stopped caring about prayer in schools. Yes or no - there are way bigger issues out there. And by the way, "whatever it is they do" regarding other religions - it's still "PRAY" - maybe we should have better education to keep such obvious ignorance away from this issue. Some religious education would be great, for example - non-denominational, non-specific education. Kids could actually learn "whatever it is they do" in the different religions. Christians who want to bring back prayer seem to be the same ones that would never want kids to learn such things as "Allah" is just the word "God" in Arabic. Basic knowledge of the world's major religions should be part of everyone's education. Prayer - why care?

I think prayer should be brought back in to schools. It could be a morning assembly and attendance could be left to be optional. One atheist took prayer out of our schools - surely many Christians could bring it back. After all we are "One nation under God." It is time our children were allowed to choose if they want to show it.

In my country, Philippines, we pray every before a class begins or after every class. It is a Christian country actually, about 80%, the rest are mostly Muslims. During my college years, one of my teachers ask every student to pray, one every session. It depends on the student who will lead the prayer on what he will pray for. Most of us just pray for wisdom and to understand what is the lesson for that day, so that we may apply that knowledge to serve.. blah blah. Prayers are more exciting during exams.lol. Generally, I think it is a good practice. And right you are, it is a time to reflect on what is coming and what the student learned that day. For countries like yours, as you mentioned, with different religions, i just don't know what to say. I just think, everybody should respect everybody.. The teacher should be sensitive to the feelings of those who are non-believers, and she should know if there are those among her students that are not comfortable saying a prayer.

I do because I feel since they've taken prayer out that the children are not safe or as friendly anymore. I mean just look at the V tech incident. I think had pray been in the schools still then that kid could have gotten some help and he probably would have talked to someone and would have asked for help. regardless of the different religions everyone could say a silent prayer to themselves.

Yes. I used to pray when I am in school and the prayers are still in my memory 10 years later like it was yesterday. Sometimes you want to ask for help and you dont know what to say and these prayers come in handy. Maybe if prayer is put back into school , it can help open the eyes of some of these children to certain aspects of life.

Yes I do as long as it is equal to all religions and beliefs. However, I don't think there should be a moment of silence. Cause that can be offensive and not respected by some. Better things can be done. For example, when I was in high school(3 years ago) the school had a daily/weekly prayer meeting in the mornings. Whoever wanted to go would gather up in the front of the school(outside) and they would do a group prayer before classes started. I thought that was very nice. So I think that it would be a nice idea for some schools to do that.

I don't think any form of prayer or other religious rite should be allowed in non-religious schools. However, I do think children who belong to a religion which uses prayer then there should be no reason for them not to have a dedicated prayer time where other children could meditate or even, particularly for younger children or non-religious children, should have some "thinking" time where they rest themselves and their minds so that they can think about what they have already done during that day and be prepared for the rest of the day ahead. I think some children really need that down time whatever it is they are thinking about while they have it.

Hope it will not happen! Not just because of the different religions. I just remembered that when i was a stupent, it was neccessary to play gym every morning.Ok.Sport is usefull, we need sport and etc, but this can be really annoying too.

Yes, I do believe that prayers should be brought back to schools but then it is not an option with schools nowadays because of all the lawsuits brought to them by people who think their child will be "contaminated" with other religious beliefs if they hear the prayers. That is why as early as possible, we are saving for the education of our children. We have to send them to a private school that shares our own beliefs. In doing so, there will be no one that will be offended. There is always a price to pay if you want the best for your children, education wise.

I believe as you do. That prayer as such should be brought back into school. But I do believe that there should be a moment of silence for those who want to pray can. But to themselves because that would be infringing on the other students. But the silence should be for everyone.

I don't think prayer belongs in public school. The constitution of the United States clearly separates church and state and by allowing prayer, there would be a violation of the Constitution that's why prayer in public school was banned in the first place. I'm all for prayer, but praying can be done just about anywhere else at any time and if parents want their kids to pray, they can either take them to church or temple or enroll them in a private, religious school.