Should Prayer be put back in public schools

@kynni204 (2031)
United States
April 1, 2007 9:45pm CST
I personally think if prayer was to be mandated back in the schools, the unrulely behavior and disobedience and killings would end. People don't realize the power of prayer if you pray right. Don't you all want your children and loved ones safe while at school? God answers all of my prayers. We should really get some letters going out to the law makers, school boards and congress if need be. Prayer changes everything.
6 people like this
25 responses
@Galena (9110)
2 Apr 07
no one should ever be forced to pray. when I was five years old I was SMACKED by a teacher for not bowing my head when everyone else was praying. I'm not a Christian, I think it's hypocritical to pray to someone elses God, even if you're just mouthing the words, and I resent that teacher to this day, because they had no right to use violence against me for not bowing to THEIR God. not mine. no one is stopping those who want to pray from praying. to stop unruly behaviour you have to teach children to respect other people, respect property and lives. to stop those poor kids killing each other, something has to be done to stop the popular crowd bullying anyone who is not like them, and then maybe they won't be driven to such desparate actions.
4 people like this
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
3 Apr 07
"I do believe that if you train up a child the way they shall go and they won't depart from it." but why would i want to "train" my children to believe in something that they may not WANT to believe in?? and like Galena said, why have them pray to someone elses god? that makes no sense at all NOT TO MENTION in all reality its disrespectful to those who DO believe in that particular god....I'm a very proud Pagan and I would never want my kids to "pretend" to believe in what I do just to please me..it wouldnt please me at all...in fact I would find it rather insulting to be honest with you
2 people like this
@nietske (199)
• Belgium
2 Apr 07
i couldn't have said it better myself. If you are forced to pray, what's the point? I think it's something you want to do or don't want to do. It's all about choices!
1 person likes this
@kynni204 (2031)
• United States
2 Apr 07
I don't agree with any violence that came about because you refused to pray. But that is still no reason not to want prayer in school. Contrary to your belief it still takes more than "teaching a child". I do believe that if you train up a child the way they shall go and they won't depart from it. All children are taught and led by their surroundings whether it's their guardians or peers. When they get to school they are being taught and influenced in other areas. Most children are taught not to sleep with anyone before marriage. How many of them stick with that? Plenty of children have been taught certain things. Some strayed some have not. The difference in prayer and "teaching your children things is that God puts the desire in the childs heart to do the right thing. This thing takes prayer.
1 person likes this
@fpd1955 (2074)
• United States
2 Apr 07
If you are referring to Public schools, they have a diversity of students in attendance. If you want to put prayers back in the schools, how would you satisfy all the different religions of the children that attend. Would you have to have special classes for prayer, with teachers qualified to lead each and every different religion? This would be very difficult to do, as the schools do not have the funding to add teachers just to lead prayer services. I understand where you are coming from, but it isn't up to the school system to teach religious beliefs to students, unless they are attending a private, religious school. Then it is in their curriculum. It is up to the parents and families to instill proper behaviorial attitudes in their children.
3 people like this
@fpd1955 (2074)
• United States
8 Apr 07
Ah, but I am a Christian. I have great faith and belief in God. And just because someone is not a Christian does not mean they are an atheist. They just have a different religion.
@kynni204 (2031)
• United States
6 Apr 07
I guess the question was originally meant for Christians. But since there are so many non-Christians I get your point. You can be of a different religion but the same faith. I believe that atheists and people who don't believe that Jesus is Lord probably should be at a different school anyway.
@disvachic (10117)
• United States
4 Apr 07
I think prayer should be put back in schools.For those that believe in God and I am a strong believer!!Those who believe shoud have the right to pray and i believe without God bad things tend to happen.There is one God and that is my heavanly Father upstairs!!
2 people like this
@disvachic (10117)
• United States
4 Apr 07
as a matter of fact i just asked my son did he pray today and he told me that he prayed today in school during the moment of silence.At my son's school they have a moment of silence for only one minute.He told me that i was like you GO BOY!!
1 person likes this
@kynni204 (2031)
• United States
4 Apr 07
Yes indeed
2 people like this
@buldwgz (1489)
• United States
2 Apr 07
Mandated? No way. Prayer should be allowed anywhere that a person wants to pray, voluntary, and of course, anyone can pray where ever they want, silently. But mandating it? Forcing others to pray? No way.
3 people like this
• United States
4 Apr 07
NO! Its not fair of one religion to say that they are right and that everyone should and has to do what their religion says. And pray like they do. Thats just wrong. Thankfully living in a place that is considered free, we have the choice of what religion we want to believe in or not to believe in. Forcing children to pray to a religion that is not theirs will cause harm and damage to the child. I would pull my child from a school that demanded prayer. It should be kept in churches and religious schools. NOT the general FREE public education.
2 people like this
@Galena (9110)
5 Apr 07
exactly. why make children pray to a God they might not beleive in. as I've said, there's nothing wrong with a school having a quiet time when people can pray, or even just have a quiet think. but everyone should be free to pray to whoever they beleive in, or not pray at all if they don't beleive in it.
2 people like this
• United States
4 Apr 07
Not to mention. How you YOU feel if they decided the religion of choice, wasnt yours? You believe one thing, and yet your school is telling you that you HAVE to believe their way? Would you feel allright praying to a pagan god? Or a Budddist god? Or a hindu god? Or a greek god? What god are you planning on forcing all the children to pray to? What if the religion the schools choose isnt yours? How would you feel with the schools saying that your children must learn a different religion.
2 people like this
@kynni204 (2031)
• United States
4 Apr 07
People can't make you pray to a God you don't believe in. God the Father knows who you are praying to. This is sad and scary. I didn't reallize just how many people are going to HELL!!!
1 person likes this
@willfe (149)
• United States
2 Apr 07
Religion is something that belongs at home. Forcing students to pray opens up a huge can of worms -- which religion would you have your public schools force its students to adhere to? Catholicism? Islam? Buddhism? What about the students who aren't members of those faiths? Screw 'em? Or let everybody in the class pray to whichever god(s) they want to worship? How do you handle the conflict inherent in *that* solution? To better answer your question, no, prayer should not be put back in public schools. If you take a child who's planning to beat some other kid senseless after school and make him "pray" for five minutes a day, you're not going to change anything. What you're proposing is called "indoctrination." Introducing rote memorization, repetition, and ritual do nothing to change what a person thinks or feels on the inside. You will not change a child's behavior by forcing him to pray. You will simply build resentment within that child for a religion that has nothing to offer him except mindless rituals, ancient "boring" texts, and traditions that mean nothing to him. I'm not trying to invalidate your religion here, by the way -- I'm just saying forcing it on a student without any proper context will do nothing but waste time. Religion belongs in churches and belongs at home. If the only "religious education" you (and your church) offers your child is "if you don't follow these rules exactly and precisely, you will BURN IN HELL FOR ALL ETERNITY," you aren't providing anything intelligent or reasonable for a child to even understand. Fear isn't a good tool for this. Admitting that some things in your religion must be taken on faith, and explain the rest honestly, and you've got a better shot at actually bringing your kids into the fold. Religion in schools isn't going to stop violence and disobedience. Good parenting is. I'll make sure to keep reminding my law makers, school boards, and congresscritters that our publicly-funded schools *cannot* lawfully endorse any religion or force its students to participate in religious ceremonies. Our freedom of religion, granted to us by the bill of rights, includes a freedom *from* religion. The last thing we need are more laws, anyway. We just need better parents. Wish we could find some :)
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
2 Apr 07
"Don't you all want your children and loved ones safe while at school?" of course I want them safe in school...at home..at the park...when we go out and so on... "God answers all of my prayers." YOUR prayers...thats the key FOR YOU which is fabulous but its not that way for EVERYONE "We should really get some letters going out to the law makers, school boards and congress if need be." Why would I do that? I DONT WANT prayer back in the schools..not only does it NOT belong there but its also discriminating towards those students and staff memebers that ARENT Christian...If anything I'd write letters to congress for recess to be brought back "Prayer changes everything" again, thats for YOU which is great...but its not for everyone whichis what ppl need to start realizing
2 people like this
@Ravenladyj (22904)
• United States
2 Apr 07
My name is Raven and I dont need anyone "praying for me" thanks very much...I'm strong, proud and secure in not only my beliefs but also my rights to NOT have religion crammed down my childrens throats UNLESS they intend to cram ALL religions down their throats thanks ;-)
2 people like this
@kynni204 (2031)
• United States
2 Apr 07
I'll pray for you sister or brother what ever you are.
1 person likes this
@vanities (11395)
• Davao, Philippines
2 Apr 07
in my time when im still in school we pray always before and after class and it feels good it makes me more prayerful and be able to talk to God always..im not aware now that schools dont pray anymore in class...well yeah prayer must be imposed..
@kynni204 (2031)
• United States
2 Apr 07
Thank you, it is detrimental
1 person likes this
@judyt00 (3497)
• Canada
2 Apr 07
So, for all of you who are for prayer being put back in school, how upset are you going to be when your children come home quoting another religion's prayers? How are we going to decide which prayers should be allowed and whose prayers are not going to be allowed? Are you going to only allow one religion's prayers, or are you going to accept all religion's prayers, including pagan religions and Satanism?
@Galena (9110)
3 Apr 07
what's wrong with Pagan Prayers? and Satanism isn't a religion. it's a philosophy. as they don't beleive in any higher spiritual beings, they don't have anything to pray to.
2 people like this
@Transformed (1259)
• United States
2 Apr 07
The United States is not at the place anymore where religion can be forced upon its students.
2 people like this
• Australia
2 Apr 07
It most definitely should not! How ridiculous. First and foremost, not all children in those schools belong to the same religion, or any religion at all, and it is wrong to make children activiely participate in a religion which they don't belong to. If this happened, I would not allow my children to go to public school. Secondly, your viewpoint is very naive. There are catholic schools where the children pray many times a day, and these still have the same problems among students as public ones. Whether they pray and whether they're christian or not is not related to how well students behave. I think praying is a good thing, but to force children to do it...especialy to the god of a certain religion not all of them belong to, is in my eyes a disgusting idea.
2 people like this
@nietske (199)
• Belgium
2 Apr 07
Personally i don't think that prayers solves everything, look at history, a lot of people that prayed and were highly religious waged war on others (muslim fundamentalist also pray). I believe that you should have the choice to pray, but also not to pray. In belgium, my home countryn, there is no prayer in public schools, only in catholic schools and we don't have that much bad behaviour. If you want an answer to behaviour problems structural changes might be a better answer then prayer (smaller classes,schools...), just my opinion.
@taymouse (585)
• United States
2 Apr 07
I went to a private Catholic school where we prayed and had religion classes. I honestly don't think it would work to put prayer back into public schools. Not everyone sees it the way you do and there would be a lot of arguing. For those people who don't believe, they don't their to be children to be influenced by that. It's a good idea but it would never work.
1 person likes this
@kynni204 (2031)
• United States
2 Apr 07
I know it would work you have to believe. That's another part of the problem. Not enough people are praying to have the minds of Atheist's converted.
1 person likes this
@taymouse (585)
• United States
3 Apr 07
But not everyone believes the way you do and they shouldn't be forced to. People believe different things and that should be accepted. For example, it would be like someone trying to convince YOU to switch to a different religion. You don't want someone to throw their way of life in your face and tell you have to take it. If you believe in God, that is great. Good for you! :) But not everyone does and they shouldn't be made to. A lot of people would be unhappy. I am Catholic and I think everyone has the right to believe what they wish, whether I think they're wrong or not. I do not have the right to change anyone's beliefs.
1 person likes this
2 Apr 07
It would work where all pupils followed Christianity, but it would cause uproar with pupils and families who are not of that faith. It may even segregate pupils, as those who are not Christian would have to be exempt from the prayer. Some people may even be bullied. If people want to pray, they should do so of their own will and not forced. If they wanted to pray at school they would already, in their own time. Disobedience needs to be tackled with discipline, not something controversial such as religion.
2 people like this
@magnet (2087)
• United States
5 Apr 07
I think that prayer is still allowed in schools,if it wasn't students would get into trouble for saying a prayer to God. I don't know why some people interpret it as a force. Anyway prayer really is allowed. When I was in high school in 1993 we had a moment of silence. During that time we had a choice to pray or not pray. It was mandatory that everyone is quite during that time to respect those who were praying. No one can force anyone from not praying. Anyone can pray all throughout the day. I don't think that a student will get into trouble for saying grace before they eat their meals. Or saying a silent prayer before taking a test. God always wins!
1 person likes this
@Acts238girl (2087)
• United States
2 Apr 07
Yes I definitely think they should put prayer back in schools.This nation as a whole has turned their back on God and you see whats happening in the world today.Alot of people have no conscience.The Bible talks about peoples conscience being seered with a hot iron.
@kynni204 (2031)
• United States
2 Apr 07
Thank you I agree
1 person likes this
• United States
2 Apr 07
I am in total agree ment with you !Just look at the state of our country i believe since we are taking God out of our lives he may be taking his hand of protection off of us !
1 person likes this
@kynni204 (2031)
• United States
6 Apr 07
Exactly, The problem is alot of people don't believe tht there is a God. And if they do, they are praying to demon gods which are making things worse.
• United States
5 Apr 07
I couldn't agree more! I think the absence of prayer takes away the hope and faith in God that our children need to grow. We have become a culture that may be VERY diverse in beliefs, ethnicity, etc but we originally were "ONE NATION UNDER GOD" and I think we need to stay that way.
@kynni204 (2031)
• United States
6 Apr 07
Amen well said. "ONE NATION UNDER GOD" JEHOVAH
1 person likes this
@bad1981 (799)
• United States
2 Apr 07
I think prayers should be allowed in any school, not just private. God can help all people no matter where they are and sometimes the power of prayer can help troubled people and maybe it would help with some of the violence in schools these days.
1 person likes this
@Galena (9110)
2 Apr 07
of course prayers should be allowed in schools. to whatever Gods the pupil honours. it should be allowed, but it shouldn't be COMPULSORY. and the pupils should be free to pray to whoever they beleive in, or not pray at all if they don't want to.
1 person likes this
• United States
3 Apr 07
I agree with you on this one too. Definatly. I think they should have a class to where the kids can decide wheather or not they want to be in it and they can pray every morning and maybe even have a small bible study.
1 person likes this