Prayer in School: Restoring Faith in our Children Mahannah Jr.English 110, Section 015Professor Lisa MacklemDecember 1, 1999Prayer in School: Restoring Faith in our Children The issue concerning prayer in school has been active for several years and continues to be a topic of debate. With increasing concerns about our children’s moral foundation and safety, how can there be a negative view of allowing children to voluntarily pray in school? The recent shootings that have taken place in our nations schools, injuring and killing many of our children, has brought to light issues concerning the lack of moral standards among our countries youth. Whatever your religious belief, the concept of asking for help and guidance from a higher power when you are confronted with difficult situations or dilemmas, at the minimum, gives us a chance to step back and evaluate what is going on in our lives. If only for a minute, it gives us the opportunity to pause and concentrate on what is really bothering us. Even if you do not believe in the Christian religion, or any religion for that matter, the Bible is filled with sound morals and practices, which in a time of despair, could aid in guiding a person to make the right decision or offer piece of mind. The political argument against prayer in school is based on the separation of church and state, including, so called violations of the first amendment. Let us take a closer look at that argument. The first amendment gives us the right to freedom of speech, religion, and press. Where in the Bill of Rights or the rest of the Constitution, does it discuss the separation of church and state? Put simply, it does not (Helms, 1994). So where is the basis for opposition? Another issue concerning school prayer is the Ninth Circuit court decision on November 18, 1994, ruling that student prayer at graduation was unconstitutional (Sekulow, Thornton, 1994). Although this was the ruling, ...
