Religion Should There Be Prayer Reaction Paper

The U.S. Supreme Court has supported school cooperation in regards to the establishment of religion. They have done this because they respect the religious nature of people and feel that people should be able to accommodate their spiritual needs (What are the pros and cons of prayer in school, n.d.)?

On the other side of the debate, those who are against putting prayer back into the public schools often argue that school prayer violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment because it says that the government shall not make laws in regards to the establishment of religion. Due to the fact that public schools are financed by the government, prayer that is led by school officials or included in any school program can be seen as government-established religion. Proponents to school prayer feel that school prayer ignores the division of church and state. Traditionally public schools are thought to be for education purposes only, not religious commemoration. Proponents argue that there are currently times in which prayer in school is permissible. This would be when students pray on a voluntary basis as long as it is not disruptive in any way (What are the pros and cons of prayer in school, n.d.)?

There are many who believe that school prayer may lead to prejudice. Those against public prayer believe that having prayer would only emphasize any religious differences that exist between the children. This group also things that students who refrain from school prayer will not be accepted by their peers. School prayer is thought to be innately coercive. It is thought that there is no way that it can be put into practice in a way that is completely voluntary. The public school system was created for all students and supported by taxpayers, so many believe that it should remain neutral on religious issues because students and taxpayers are likely not to see eye-to-eye (What are the pros and cons of prayer in school, n.d.)? Even though prayer in school continues to be an issue, prayer in schools continues to go on. If a student wants to pray in school, they must do it so that it is silent (When did the prayer in school debate begin, 2010)? The debate over this issue has been going on for a long time. Personally, I believe that prayer should be allowed in school. I believe that the good it would do far outweighs any harm that could possibly be done. Prayer is a choice and everyone's right to choose should be respected. Everyone should be allowed to participate or not depending on their own personal beliefs. I do not think that it is something that should be mandated, but definitely a choice for each individual to make. Works Cited "Prayer in Public School - Overview of Governing Constitutional Principles." 2003. Viewed 23 June, 2010. < http://www.allaboutpopularissues.org/prayer-in-public-school.htm> "What are the pros and cons of prayer in school?" n.d. Viewed 23 June, 2010, < http://www.allabouthistory.org/pros-and-cons-of-prayer-in-school-faq.htm >. "When did the prayer in school debate begin? 2010. Viewed 23 June, 2010,