For over forty years, there has been a lot of disagreement surrounding the issue of prayers in public school systems. The disagreement is not so much about whether or not school officials should be allowed to lead prayer. Public school officials and employees cannot offer prayer before a sporting event, and they may not invite a guest to offer prayer before a sporting event. This started back in 1962 after the Engel v. Vitale case which banned prayer in all public school systems. “The Establishment Clause of the United States Constitution provided that the government may not establish religion. The U.S. Supreme Court has interpreted this clause to mean that the public school districts cannot encourage or discourage prayer. However, it is perfectly
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Sportslaw.uslegal.com tells us that the more relevant issue is practice of religion by sports participants and coaches. For example, can prayers be led prior to sports contests at high schools and universities? People are constantly going back to the separation of church and state, meaning the government (which includes schools and universities) is not allowed to promote a particular religion. Courts use three tests to determine whether prayers in schools are constitutional, and they are the Lemon test, the Endorsement test, and the Coercion test (Religion and Sports, n.d.). “The Lemon test states that an action must have a secular purpose. Its primary effect must neither have advance nor inhibit religion, an it must not result in an excessive entanglement with religion. The Endorsement test states the government cannot endorse, favor, promote, or prefer any religious belief or practice. Finally, the Coercion test states that the government may not coerce anyone to support or participate in religion or its exercise.” (Religion and Sports, …show more content…
Like stated in the first paragraph, the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states that we have freedom of religion and speech. Therefore, if a student wants to pray before he starts class every day or a group of students and athletes wants to pray with the rest of their team and fans I encourage it. I do not understand why people want to ban prayer in schools when “In God We Trust” is the official motto of the United States (In God We Trust, 2014). “In God We Trust” first appeared on U.S. coins in 1864 and has appeared on paper currency since 1957 (In God We Trust, 2014). The fact that people want to take away history and shut out God and prayer is mind blowing. This is what our country was founded on and now close to 200 years later people do not want their kids to know what prayer is. People have the choice to bow their heads and pray or walk away and ignore the prayer. To me, if someone wants to take the time to pray and give thanks then I am 100 percent behind that person. It is sad that people are too busy worrying about kids trying to pray before and after a sporting event when they need to be worried about all of the bad things that have and will happen in this world that we live in. The problem that we have in this world today is that we lack the generosity and love that this nation used to have. Some people that claim they are Christians definitely do not act like they
Sportslaw.uslegal.com tells us that the more relevant issue is practice of religion by sports participants and coaches. For example, can prayers be led prior to sports contests at high schools and universities? People are constantly going back to the separation of church and state, meaning the government (which includes schools and universities) is not allowed to promote a particular religion. Courts use three tests to determine whether prayers in schools are constitutional, and they are the Lemon test, the Endorsement test, and the Coercion test (Religion and Sports, n.d.). “The Lemon test states that an action must have a secular purpose. Its primary effect must neither have advance nor inhibit religion, an it must not result in an excessive entanglement with religion. The Endorsement test states the government cannot endorse, favor, promote, or prefer any religious belief or practice. Finally, the Coercion test states that the government may not coerce anyone to support or participate in religion or its exercise.” (Religion and Sports, …show more content…
Like stated in the first paragraph, the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states that we have freedom of religion and speech. Therefore, if a student wants to pray before he starts class every day or a group of students and athletes wants to pray with the rest of their team and fans I encourage it. I do not understand why people want to ban prayer in schools when “In God We Trust” is the official motto of the United States (In God We Trust, 2014). “In God We Trust” first appeared on U.S. coins in 1864 and has appeared on paper currency since 1957 (In God We Trust, 2014). The fact that people want to take away history and shut out God and prayer is mind blowing. This is what our country was founded on and now close to 200 years later people do not want their kids to know what prayer is. People have the choice to bow their heads and pray or walk away and ignore the prayer. To me, if someone wants to take the time to pray and give thanks then I am 100 percent behind that person. It is sad that people are too busy worrying about kids trying to pray before and after a sporting event when they need to be worried about all of the bad things that have and will happen in this world that we live in. The problem that we have in this world today is that we lack the generosity and love that this nation used to have. Some people that claim they are Christians definitely do not act like they