Essay On Prayer In Public Schools

Roger Williams said it best when he stated, “No one should be bound to worship, or to maintain a worship [taxes to an established church] against his own consent" (Karsten). This is why required prayer in public schools is such an argumentative topic in today’s society. In 1962, required prayer was taken out of schools across the United States (Pros and Cons of Prayer). However, individual prayer is still allowed and acceptable, somewhat. Teachers and faculty members may not participate in prayer while in the presence of students. Students may practice prayer on their own, but it cannot be forceful or vocal. They can also share with other students about prayer, but cannot force them to listen or share the same belief (Religion in Public Schools). Is this right? Fifty-five percent of America’s general population believe there are too little religious influences (Pros and Cons of Prayer). Nevertheless, what about the other forty-five percent? It would be an uproar to try to compensate the needs of a country when its people are split so evenly. The country’s various cultures can be compromised if we demand prayer rather than leaving it to be a voluntary act. However, a moment of silence after the Pledge of Allegiance can be a …show more content…
They claimed their daughter’s eighth grade graduation ceremony was unfair because a rabbi prayed during the program. They felt offended because they were not Jewish. Consequently, this situation was taken to court. This particular trial travelled all the way to the Supreme Court and became know as Lee versus Weisman. In the end, however, Nathan Bishop Middle School won when they claimed that prayer at these type ceremonies are important to most people, and that the Weisman’s did not have to participate in prayer if they chose not to do so (Lee v Weisman,