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Composition II Matt Alberhasky Argument for the Right to Hold Organized Prayer in Schools Families, these days, are becoming more and more religious; yet they cannot decide if organized prayers in school should actually be a part of the school day. The argument that has evolved around organized prayer in public schools has been prevalent over the past four decades. Beginning with the Engel vs. Vitale case in 1962 and carrying over with District of Abington Township vs. Schempp in 1963, organized prayer in public schools has been all but abolished by the United States government. Annie Laurie Gaylor in her writing of “The Case against School Prayer" gives many reasons why it is a good idea to support the removal of organized prayer from our nation's public schools. It is the natural right and God-given ability to be able to hold organized prayer in school and should be reinstated in the public schools of America today, because it would inject a new wave of strong morals in the commonwealth of America today. The author, Gaylor, first makes it a point in her article to emphasize the idea that schools should be neutral on the stance of religion. The response to that is offered in this case is that the government needs to neutralize itself first before trying to neutralize the education system. The fact that the dollar bill emphasizes the point “IN GOD WE TRUST " already points the accusing finger of the hypocrisy of the government. This nation was founded on and has always stood on the grounds of religious morals. To take organized prayer out of the school system is ludicrous and needs to be rethought immediately. The fact that the point is brought up that organized prayer in schools in unconstitutional is completely wrong; In fact, nowhere in the Constitution does it mention the phrase “Separation of Church and State ". This is an interesting point since she makes it a point to emphasize the “constitutional" separation of church and state (The Case against School Prayer...1). Most Christian parents that support school prayer view that not only does it [prayer] help make the transition into learning smooth, and it also helps students to resolve personal issues. Prayers give students, no matter the religion, time every morning where they think about values and faith to help them through life. Many students have problems and prayer gives them time for them to think about their issues. Supporters view that starting the day off with prayer will not harm society. They see it as a "way of allowing...students to clear their minds" ("School Prayer..." 1). One supporter of organized religion in school states, "Kids are to often found dead as gang members, or having children out of wedlock. Prayer promotes peace and abstinence in almost every organized religion. It is absolutely vital to maintain moral health in our society. Prayer may cause children to become better human-beings, better members of society, and better parents for our young" ("School Prayer..." 1). Many parents and adults consider the uprising of crime and the lowering of Values in society a result of taking prayers out of schools ("School Prayer..." 1). A libertarian stated, "There is a huge move toward more religious expression among students during the school day. Schools need to make policies so that people will understand the boundaries" (Van Biema 61). There are two "documents"that protect and limit prayer in public schools. The obvious one would be the Constitution, or the Bill of Rights; the less known one is the "Equal Access Act." This document reads that all federally funded schools have to allow religious meetings if they also host other clubs, not related to the curriculum (Newcomb 1). Contrary to what many think, prayer is, in fact, allowed in the public school system, school houses, at the flag pole, in student religious clubs, and in the cafeteria; however, it is not normally permitted in the class room when class is in session ("Religion..." 1). The powers that the schools have to enforce these laws are limited though. Schools are not allowed to stop a student from praying, as long as it doesn't disrupt the class, although it touches on the religious beliefs and tolerances of many. ("School Prayer..." 1). The first amendment requires that public school teachers, principals, and boards be religiously neutral, they may not promote a particular religion as superior to any other ("Religion..." 1). Schools are also prohibited from many religious related acts, such as: requiring students to recite prayers in class, public prayers at high school games, requiring students to partake in a moment of silence, promoting any one denomination or religion at the expense of another, banning the wearing of religious clothing and symbols, and prayers before education meetings. It also requires schools to drop a line containing the word "God" out of the Pledge of Allegiance. Students can, however: Pray before eating, Hand out religious materials, Freely talk about religion to peers, Study the positive/negative effects of religion, Carry Bibles or any other religious text, and they can Organize prayers on school ground, outside of the classroom ("Religion..." 1). As the law states right now, children can pray in school in their own privacy. Prayer in school is legal as long as it is not required, sanctioned, scheduled or suggested by school officials. But if a student wants to raise the issue of a voluntary student led prayer, that is in no way linked to the officials, Gaylor strikes down that idea also as a religious infringement on an individual’s rights. The fact is that the law makes it impossible to have an organized public or private prayer in schools which goes against the rights of the First Amendment to guarantee free speech. Another point Gaylor makes is that commencements should be a prayer-free environment as to respect the beliefs of others. She points out that by allowing the prayer; the government is in effect not upholding its job of protecting people from another imposing religion. The idea of not blessing that which God has allowed is unthinkable. Prayer before a commencement in no way infringes on the rights of another person. If that person who disagrees with the prayer wants to introduce a practice similar to prayer but in respect of their own religion then by all means that individual has the right to do so, If that person does not speak up because of the fear of being made fun of or disrespected than that is that individual's own problem. The author points out that the democratic system should not be used in the decision of prayer in schools because it was not meant to be used as a tool for establishing a religion. This is a point that can be easily disagreed on. The fact of the matter is that a majority vote should be taken at each and every school on the decision of the prayer matter. This is how a democracy works. It would allow the overall voice of each and every community in America to let each other know how the issue should be handled and to go from there. This would allow democracy to work to its' fullest capacity. The vote should be strictly upheld and compromises and technicalities should be worked out among the groups on individuals voting. Annie Laurie Gaylor overall offered a very secular view on the issue of school prayer. Her argument overall seemed to overshadow the few basic principles that this country was founded on the basis of God Almighty and the idea of democracy in voting on the prayer issue. Prayer is a tool to bring back religion and morals back to the United States. Prayer is one of a few things that kids and adults alike need in this country to turn it back on the right track. To disallow a religious principle that this country was founded on is to disallow the integrity, morals and values this country was founded on. If we want kids to stop killing in schools, stop focusing on issues of no consequence and start allowing God back in our public schools. Prayer is natural and a God-given right that we as humans are allowed to exercise. If a group as a majority feels this way than it should be allowed with no argument against it. In closing, the only thing left to say is we need God back in this country and prayer in schools is only the beginning of the new wave of revival. Bibliography * Gaylor, Annie Laurie. The Case Against School Prayer. 1995 http://www.ffrf.org/issues/pray/html. * N.A. The History of Prayer in Our Public Schools. N.D. http://www.schoolprayer.com/edguide/art1.html * Newcomb, Amelia. "Praying at School." Christian Science: June 16, 1998. (Sept. 23, 2000). * "School Prayer: A Dividing Line of American Values."1998. (Sept. 23, 2000). * Surveys. Lake City, MN. Nov. 2000. Van Biema, David. "The Day God Took Over." Time. June 5, 2000: p61. * Newcomb, Amelia. "Praying at School." Christian Science: June 16, 1998. (Sept. 23, 2000). * "Religion in the US. Public Schools." 1998. (Sept. 23, 2000). * Riley, Richard W. "Religion and Public Schools."1998. (Sept. 23, 2000).