Abstract
This paper presents a discussion about school prayer. The author of this paper believes that prayer in school is a direct violation of the constitutional mandate that church and state remain separated, and discusses the intent of the founding fathers when implementing such a separation.

From the Paper
"For many years now, the issue of school prayer has made the forefront to the news. We hear that students defy direct orders from school officials and stand to recite the Lord's Prayer at graduation. We hear about principals being hauled into court by the ACLU for allowing students to pray on campus. It is a volatile issue that remains close to the heart on both sides of the argument. The bottom line, however, is that America proudly waves its diversity banner to the rest of the world. We brag about the fact that we welcome and encourage diversity and we are founded on the premise that freedom of religion should be a right of every person."

Tags:america, constitution, separation, church, state, fathers, founding, diversity, religious, religion, nation, faith, government, public

Abstract
This paper presents a detailed examination of the controversy surrounding school prayers in public schools in the United States. The paper examines wording in the Constitution to determine whether school prayers should be allowed. The writer presents the argument that school prayer is the right of the individual student and it should not be banned from schools.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
The Opposition
Conclusion

From the Paper
"The opposing side of the issue point to the clause in the constitution that refers to the separation of church and state. They believe this is a forefather mandate not to allow anything religious to enter a public school setting. This is incorrect. The mandate is to not have the public school system turn to a religious body for its rules, regulations and decisions. This has nothing to do with the fact that the constitution allows freedom of speech."
"In addition, those who oppose allowing school prayers point to the fact that there are many different faiths within public school systems. They believe that the minority of students who are not Christian by faith will feel left out or singled out when they choose not to take part in prayer. This can be easily regulated by treating the school prayer rights the same as any other freedom of speech rights."

Tags:amendment, speech, faith

Abstract
This paper examines a hypothetical law enacted by a state school board to enact "moral and spiritual training in the schools". The hypothetical legislation is analyzed for constitutional muster by comparing the facts of the proposed law to three actual cases decided by the Supreme Court. There is a long history of jurispurdence barring that activites proposed by the state school board in this hypothetical, but a thorough analysis is provided.

From the Paper
"This paper shall constitutionally analyze the "Moral and Spiritual Training in the Schools" program proscribed by the state board of education. It will examine three prior decisions by the Supreme Court and contrast these decisions to the present facts. The Establishment Clause is clear as to the role of government and religion, however, as with all important moral and political actions of the state, necessitate a thorough examination and review."

Tags:establishment, clause, constitution

Abstract
The writer explains that the issue of school prayer is not one of religious freedom, as it is already legal for children to pray in school, either individually or in groups. The paper explains that to forbid this prayer would violate both freedom of speech and religion. The paper explains that, despite this fact, there are factions that wish to instate specific, or mandated prayer in public schools. The paper explores whether it is necessary to modify the constitution to secure a very basic right that is already protected. In conclusion, the writer expresses the opinion that no constitutional amendment is necessary to protect the right of children to pray in school. The writer feels that people of faith should consider that the personal issue of prayer, when manipulated by government, can lead to dangerous consequences, including exclusion, ostracization and even violence. The writer states the belief that the right of teaching children the basic truths of each child's chosen religion should be reserved for the parents and that a constitutional amendment would turn this right over to the government.

Table of Contents:
To Restore State-Written Prayers
Allow Group Prayers in the Public Schools
Allow for Voluntary Prayer
Works Cited

From the Paper
"The fate of a school prayer-religious liberties amendment has always rested in the hands of the Congress. And yes, there are those who will always campaign hard against this issue. There will be warnings that the argument for school prayer is limited to the extreme religious right and that to be associated with the issue would hurt those looking for re-election or that school prayer is too politically divisive and should be left alone. Even more strongly, there will be those that will argue that the issue is simply un-American since it would undermine the constitutional guarantee of separation of church and state. The rhetoric will always flow hard and freely on this issue."

Tags:liberties, exclusion, geisler

Abstract
The paper analyzes the "Moral and Spiritual Training" school program proscribed by the state board of education, to determine whether it violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. The paper examines three prior decisions by the Supreme Court and contrasts these decisions to the present facts.

From the Paper
"Rarely is there a clearer statement of intent and direction than in the establishment clause of the First Amendment, which states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. . ." (Constitution, 1999, First Amendment). The first clause of the First Amendment, also known as the "establishment clause," is often interpreted as prohibiting the federal government from setting up a church, passing laws that aid one or all religions, or forcing acceptance or disbelief in a religion (Black, 1979, p. 490)."

Tags:First, Amendment, Establishment, Clause, courts, religion

Abstract
This paper argues that, although the framers of the Constitution may have written clauses to protect the Church from the State, it has been decided by the Supreme Court that, in order to accomplish this, the State also must be protected from the Church. The author points out that advocates of school prayer counter that, since in a democracy the majority must be satisfied, a majority of Americans desire prayer in public schools; however, this statistic has never been proven. The paper stresses that, when teachers or other authority figures organize or lead a prayer, there is an obvious element of coercion involved for students who might not wish to pray. The author concludes that the government must protect the rights of all citizens to practice whatever religion they believe is the right faith for them or to practice no religion at all.

From the Paper
"Prayer divides children into two groups: the group that goes along, and the usually considerably smaller group of children who don't. Those who do not participate in "voluntary" prayers can be made the victims of ostracism, threats and other exclusionary practices. Schoolchildren have enough reasons to exclude each other without the help of a highly controversial issue such as religious belief inserting itself into the public classroom setting. ... Religion is such an emotional topic for so many people that it is irresponsible to allow it to be introduced into schools..."

Tags:separation, politics, speech, parochial, coercion

Abstract
A discussion on the history of prayer in American schools. This paper presents arguments for and against the issue and also examines legal implications of these arguments. Current legal battles are discussed and legislative conclusions are presented. This paper also addresses the issue of church vs. state in America as a whole and schools in particular.

From the Paper
"Prayer in schools is one of the most debated topics in U.S. history. Debate didn't begin in the 1960s as some people believe. Debate began more than 100 years ago when Italian and Irish Catholic immigrants were forced to read the King James Bible and pray in schools. At that time, during the 1830s, the first prayer in school conflicts erupted. Riots, fires at convents and school expulsions were commonplace in the name of the school prayer debate. In 1962, as the United States became a more diverse nation, the court ruled against school prayer in the case of Engel v. Vitale (Grunberg and Crane: This History par 1)."

Tags:religion, christian, prayer, education, constitution, legal

Abstract
Those who argue against allowing prayers in school point to the American Constitution, which mandates a separation of church and state. Those who support the issue, however, remind the world that Senate, Congressional, and city meetings start with a prayer. This paper presents a detailed examination of the issue of prayer in school. The writer explores the issue from both sides and includes several examples of government debate regarding prayer in schools. After presenting both sides of the issue, the writer's view is presented on the side of those who believe that a student should be able to express his or her religion freely, but should not be forced to do so.

From the Paper
"One of the problems with the issue of allowing prayer in school or not is the fact that the public is receiving many conflicting messages. The constitution clearly mandates that there should be a separation of church and state. To those who are against prayer in school, this easily translates to believing the founding fathers did not want anything spiritual allowed into a public school system, which after all is funded and run by the "state", a government body. Separation of church and state, according to the detractors of prayer in school, means that no religious events or activities should be allowed within the school grounds during public school hours."

Tags:administration, Christian, Supreme, Court

Abstract
America was founded as a democracy where all religious beliefs would be tolerated. The paper argues that Christian thought has invaded our school systems on a regular basis and forced many non-Christians to feel excluded. This essay explores the attempts to keep established prayer in school. The ultimate goal is to defend a system where a child has a moment to pray or not pray in any way that child feels necessary.

From the Paper
"If the state remains neutral, then followers of all religions will more easily be able to live in peace because their religious beliefs do not collide on political grounds. Many countries have religious disputes because one religion is official and members of the other religions feel oppressed. America's founding fathers deemed it necessary to include religious freedom in the Constitution because the original colonists came to America to escape religious persecution. Now there are immigrants from all religious backgrounds coming to America with the intention of achieving complete religious freedom. If the public school system is allowed to have an established prayer, then an immigrant child with a different religious background or a child with no religious beliefs at all will feel excluded and may perhaps feel oppressed."

Tags:ammendment, islam, tolerance, legislation

Abstract
This paper explains that, while church and state are to be separate, the government continues to play a vital role in deciding what can or cannot be done within the public school system. The author points out that, during the last century, many court cases have specifically defined the First Amendment and addressed key issues where rulings determined what may or may not be done within the school system concerning religious activities or displays. The paper details three major decisions made by the United States Supreme Court regarding state-approved religious activities in schools and their violations against the United States Constitution. These include Everson vs. Board of Education Court (1945), Engel vs. Vitale (1962), School District of Abington Township, Pennsylvania vs. Schempp (1963)

From the Paper
"A student is not banned by the First Amendment to participate in the act of praying while at school. Instead, it prohibits public schools from being actually being involved in the prayers or other religious activities of students. Moments of silence in which individual students may choose to pray are constitutional, so long as teachers neither instruct nor encourage students to use the time for prayer. It is also constitutional for educators to teach the curriculum subjects of religious history, literature, and music if presented as academic and not in a devotional manner."

Tags:everson, engel, schempp, first, amendment