Public school is public ground, where the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution must be protected. And prayer and gathering are freedoms protected by the Constitution. Prohibiting prayers in schools is anti Constitutional and illegal.

I believe that in public schools, just like any other public setting, that prayer should be allowed yet never forced. Its that simple.

I don't think that it should be a neccessity, but I think that if you need time to pray, then time should be set aside for you.
Religion shouldn't be banned in school, just not forced on others.
~Keely

If a person wants to pray, then they should be able to. If they don't want to, that's their perogative. After all, the last time I checked this was America.

Separation of church and state is being used now to stifle all religion, not just to exclude the endorsement of one religion over another by the state, as the amendment was originally written. A bloody shame, if you ask me. If a student wants to take five to chat with his or her Creator, that's fine with me, and protected by the Constitution. A teacher leading unwilling students in prayer, or preventing willing ones from doing their own prayer, that is what is not allowed, not the wholesale banning of religion altogether.

As long as the prayer is not endorsed by the school, and is not led by any employees on the clock, obviously the right to pray is protected. As one judge pointed out, before an exam, there is ALWAYS prayer in school.

Prayer in school should be legalized-Where does freedom of religion come in in all of this? Where are our rights?!

Another imagined cry from those who live in a fantasy world that people want to infringe on 'their freedom of religion'. Of course you can pray in a public school. But schools have to be safe havens for kids from different religious backgrounds thus the public schools are the last places to fight legal holy wars.

This is a non-issue. Kids can pray in public schools. The law simply doesn't allow a moment to be set aside by an entity representing the government (i.e. the school) for the specific purpose of doing this. And that includes moments of reflection and silent meditation which are about as transparent a cover as Intelligent Design. Tell your kids to pray in school if they want to. I would love to have words with the administrator/person acting on behalf of the school who would explain to me how and why they stopped your child from praying. And I'll be equally happy to represent you on a contingency basis in this matter (uh, as long as it's in my jurisdiction).

Students should be allowed to pray if they wish, but there should not be any prayers held in class or on the PA due to the schools being puplic and having students of different religions. If you want to have prayers in school, the answer is simple - send your child to a religious school.

well truthfully I don't believe in god, but lets say I do. how in the world is god going to help you with doing your homework?! It takes STUDYING to get good grades not the hands of your holy lord.

OK HERE IS MY THOUGHT. YOU CAN SAY NO PRAYER IN SCHOOL ALL YOU WANT BUT YOU CANNOT STOP PRAYER. GOD HEARS OUR SILENT PRAYERS LOUD AND CLEAR.

Prayer should definitley be allowed. If jews are allowed to wear their headgear (which they are). Then we should be able to pray to God. Prayer never hurts, it only helps.

A moment of silence to pray on an individual level isn't going to harm anyone. Forcing someone to pray is another matter and something that should not be allowed.

I work in a middle school, prayer is not forbidden there only ORGANIZED PRAYER OR RELIGIOUS PRACTICES. I've told kids, you can pray by yourself anytime or with your friends at lunch or on your free time. I don't want people coming in and teaching their beliefs to my children. I wouldn't want a Catholic, Jehovah Witness or Muslim or Mormon coming in and teaching their way is the right way so I don't think that mainstream Christians should be allowed to teach that their's is the way either. That is for the family and home. It's certainly not for school. By the way I'm Christian.

Why take what a small amont of are freedom just because the goverment are a bunch of bible thumpers.

2nd UPDATE: How is it that a public school is a government facility? Most are owned by non-profit, municipal corporations known as School Districts. They are owned by the government in communist countries but here, in America, the School Districts are run by duly elected School Boards, and governed by state constitutions, many of which acknowledge a Creator, some of which actually mandate belief in a Supreme Being. ORIGINAL COMMENT 11/15/04: With the sorry state of our education system, I would consider a discussion of this topic a complete waste of time and a distraction from the real purpose of the school. Fifty years ago organized school prayer was quite common in most geographical areas, moreso where the parents (also known as taxpayers) were quite religious. The community depended on the school to prepare their children for adulthood and prayer was considered one area of adult prep. Today, our activist friends want to ban any religious references and discussion from all school buildings under the auspices that a few non-religious students have the right not to be offended by another's religious thoughts and expression. That right is not guaranteed by the US Constitution. If anyone thinks it is, please point out the clause. Further, any organization in receipt of tax dollars must today be devoid of any religious content. How narrow and paranoid we've become. We've completely lost sight of the original purpose of the schools by making them a microcosm of the cacophony and confusion of the mainstream culture. Until the schools become refocused on preparing their students for the real world, and for the common trials all children face in advancing to adulthood, our public schools will continue to fail, and to fail more and more miserably.

People tend to forget that there's a seperation of church and state. This shouldn't even be an issue, but it is. Beside, the bible states that you should not pray in public, go back and reread Matthew 6:5-6. P.S. This is an issue of seperation of church and state because a public school is a government facility.

Pray all you want. Just don't do it on my time. Get back to studying, you little twerps.

If a student wants to pray to whomever being they worship, by all means go ahead. I believe that is one of the greatest aspects of our democratic society, freedom of relgion.

UPDATE 3: Ralph, I'm not laughing... UPDATE 2: For the record, I don't hate you, and before your come back with a reply to this and say you don't hate Christians you only hate idol worshipers, remember your words in the past have spoken volumes about how you really feel about life and people. UPDATE: Ralph: Get off the Christian hate thing you have going on, prayer can be to any God, including your G-d. ORIGINAL MESSAGE: I agree with louiethe20th, children should be allowed the opportunity to pray or not to pray.

Prayer does not belong in our public schools. public schools are for learning, not worship.

I'm agreeing with Sgt Ed on this one. I personally wouldn't pray in school, but I don't see why the choices of the minority affect the events of the majority. Those that want to, should have the right; those that don't, shouldn't be forced. Praying hurts no one.

Once again, we have a problem only because the minority brings up a complaint that affects the whole. People who dont want to pray dont have to, that is their right. But people should not have to give up their right to pray because someone else doesnt believe in the same beliefs. Freedom of choice for all, not someone elses choice that erases the freedom they speak of in their arguments.

I think it should definitely be allowed. I also believe that you should be able to pray to whatever you want. Kids should not be persecuted for following Christ! If Muslims are allowed to wear head scarves, then Christians should be able to lift up Christ. That would include Jewish headwear as well. It should all be allowed. If we are truly for freedom of religion, every religion should be included.

I am not opposed to prayer anyplace, anytime. The probelm comes when we try to generalize the wording. There are many religions - I respect a person's choice there. May be allowing a minute or two of silence for each person to pray (or not as they chose) on a genral topic. Like Let's have a minute of silence for prayers for ... (whatever, whomever... Each of us are free to worship freely - We are not free to impose the specific wording, or religion on everyone near us. Each of us has our own choice there. I pray all the time.

This comment is somewhat of a recap or paraphrase of my comment on another site. Basically, prayer in public schools should not be mandated, but students should be allowed to pray if they so wish - privately if it's in a general classroom environment, and together if it's in a group that wishes to have some kind of prayer meeting, but in a room or area to themselves. Those who choose not to pray don't have to. I think GoneAway's comment is pretty much on the mark.

I don't mind if a kid wants to pray before taking a test. Prayer and other things associated with religion should be optional.

Why shouldn't we allow prayer in the public schools? The Constitution guarantees people their freedom of speech and freedom of religion. People shouldn't be offended by another persons beliefs. Atheists say that its disrespectful when people pray in front of them, but they are the ones being disrespectful when they don't give people their right to pray. Likewise, believers should respect their rights as well. People with no religious beliefs have their rights too. One groups rights shouldn't take precedent over another; atheists and the religious have their rights all the same. There is far too little tolerance in our society today; religion is something personal and should be kept that way. School prayer has nothing to do with the separation of church and state. Have a moment of silence before class so people can have their own private time if they want. If you don't want to pray, then don't.

I don't care about religion. Go pray by yourself cause I ain't praying with ya! I'm an athiest!

As long as it is not compulsory, a wonderful idea. It's separation of CHURCH and state, not separation of RELIGION and state. In other words, no ONE church can be favored, but yet you have RELIGIOUS freedom. Atheism needs to be given its fair opportunity as well as all other religions represented by the school. It would be a good learning opportunity to get exposed to others beliefs.

Of course prayer should be allowed in schools--just don't force students to do it if they don't want to.

if someone wants to do this on their own time, i have no problem with it.

As long as a child in question is doing it in his free time and is not disturbing anyone else I see no harm in it. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for the separation of church and state but attempting to ban solemn communication between a child and their chosen deity is enforced secularization and the worst form of the Orwellian thought police. On the other hand I dislike the fact that in a lot of English Public schools (some of which I've attended) singing hymns and prayer is obligatory. I will respect ones right to pray if they respect my right not to do so.