US/education/primary/public/prayer

Overview

A somewhat hastily-written summary: In the United States, the legal doctrine of separation of church and state requires that government-funded activities not be religious in nature. This includes public schools, which are (now) not allowed to call for prayer or other religious-oriented activities (though ironically, as far as I know they still do include the "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance). This apparently bothers many religiously-oriented people, for reasons which are not entirely clear.

Related Articles

• Prayer in public schools often becomes an issue in the United States because of its encroachment on the separation of church and state.

Notes

I'm seeing claims (e.g. The Sneeze) that it's not just teachers and staff who are not allowed to conduct religious activities, but that even students are not allowed to conduct them – that even the mention of "God" at a school event is somehow not allowed. Is this true? --Woozle 20:59, 30 May 2006 (EDT)

It depends on the case, the school, the teacher, etc. My son has been reprimanded for saying a private prayer to himself before lunch at school. For me that falls under the First Amendment, "...free exercise thereof..." This is one of the biggest issues I have with the ACLU. They will fight for vulgarians and others to say what offensive garbage they want, but not fight for the free exercise of religion. Midian 16:17, 28 July 2006 (EDT)

I think I agree with you on this one; I'm no fan of religion, by any means, but I do feel pretty strongly that personal, private prayer should be allowed. Can you come up with any examples of the ACLU declining to defend such a case? I should add that I do see a potential problem when the prayer (or other religious speech) goes beyond the personal (private prayer, or speech between friends), but I think it can be treated as ethically equivalent to advertising -- annoying and inappropriate in some contexts (like McDonald's printing the school's nutrition guide) but helpful in others (Craig's List), and there should be similar guidelines for governing when it is allowed. --Woozle 19:04, 28 July 2006 (EDT)