Religion in Public Schools - More Questions than Answers

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Prayer in Public Schools - More Questions than Answers

Censorship is a very broad topic. Is it good or bad? Often, we ask ourselves if such things need to exist because of the First Amendment right. It states, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances." (Amendments.) In the case Ginzberg v. United States, Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart stated, "Censorship reflects a society's lack of confidence in itself. It is a hallmark of an authoritarian regime . . ." Is he right? Is society lacking confidence in itself? Yes, there are some situations, which need to be censored, such as pornography. However, does religion in public schools need to be censored? Censoring religion in public schools is wrong if it infringes upon a student's right to practice his or her religion. One infringement would be prayer in school.

Public schools are supported by taxpayer money, so why would one want his taxes to support an institution that prohibits his children from praying? On the other hand, what nonbeliever would want his children to participate in prayer with his taxpayer money? Religion is an issue many school districts don't want any part of, since feelings run so hot on the issue and courts have traditionally given a strict interpretation of the Constitution's separation of church and state in the classroom. (Heilik.) "Public education in America . . . is destroying democracy in America," claims Pat Robertson. He goes on to say that public schools are in a "stranglehold" ...

... middle of paper ...

...the line should be drawn, between one's right to pray and another's right to not participate.

Works Cited

Amendments to the Constitution. Article I. http://www.law.emory.edu/FEDERAL/usconst/amend.html.

Edwards,June. Opposing Censorship in the Public Schools Religion, Morality, and Literature. Mahwah, New Jersey.

Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. 1998.

Heilik, Dena. "Of Censorship and Religion." LIS 582 - Globalization, Diversity, and Information. 10 December 1998. 8 April 1999.

<http://www.slis.ualberta.ca/cap99/dheilik/noframes.htm>.

Riley, Richard W. United States Department of Education-The Secretary. 26 January 2000. http://www.ed.gov/Speeches/08-1995/religion.html.

Rudder, John. School Prayer. Internet Infidels 1995-2001. 31 December 1999. http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/church-state/prayer.html.

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