jennled asked this question on 5/11/2000:

I want to know a few of your reasons behind stating the prayer in school should be allowed.

First, I am a christian. I believe in a superior God. I am in no way saying that Church is wrong. Iam just stating my reasons behind the reason chruch should be left at home or in "church" and not brought into the classroom.

Here is my opinion, take it for what you will.

1. This country was founded on the right to worship ones own religion. 2. There are many students in our schools that are not from this country, therefore worship in a different religion. I have the perfect example: There is a professor at my university that moved here from Egypt. Obviously not from a "Christian" upbringing. Her daughter is in a public elementary school. Her teacher told the class on Friday afternoon, who ever brings a church bullitin back to class monday will get a prize. This little girl come home crying to her mother. They don't attend "church" like we do. This right here hurt a little girl. A teachers job is not to pound God into students heads, that is what you go to church for. 3. Who says that our religion is right? That little girl was brought up thinking hers was right. 4. If students want to pray, they can do it silently on their own time. 5. School violence is not caused by the fact prayer was taking out of the schools. School violence is caused from this...

The Goodie Goodie church going students make fun of the out casts. Everyone has their limits. the outcasts get tired of this and boom... there you go

School prayer would only add to this, outcasting more students. Those students would be made fun of leading to more violence.

Ok...

I am a future teacher, and this is the subject that gets me fired up everytime i hear about it. My job will be to teach these students math... not the bible. I think that religion should be something parents do not the schools.

As of answering my question... I just want to know why everyone keeps saying that prayer in school would end or lessen violence. I just don't see how.

And I do respect your opinion don't get me wrong. I am not trying to tell you I am right. I just feel very strongly about seperating church and state.

jennifer

gandm gave this response on 5/11/2000:

Jennled, thank you for asking this question. Let me enlarge a little on what you have said. First of all, there are prayers that are acceptable by any religion. They need not be strictly "Christian". In your example please be willing to recognize the possibility that teachers make mistakes also. The easy thing - this is the road most traveled all through society - is to do away with something altogether rather than refine it. The teacher should not have given any recognition to students doing something others could not do. It's like asking everyone who has pets to bring a picture, and they will receive extra credit. As far as thinking your religion is right, if you don't than why be a part of it? At the same time we must not be exclusive. I'm afraid you misunderstood what I have previously stated. I didn't say prayer in schools would stem violence. I said, or at least meant to say, that prayer in schools would lead to a better moral climate and that would be extreemly helpful in curbing violence. Most of the problems we have in society today come from an amoral attitude. Nothing is right or wrong. Do what makes you feel good and gets you ahead. When we are caught we are only sorry we got caught, not that we may have done something wrong. In fact, the creedo for today is "it's someone elses fault, not mine". I have to remind you also that no where has there ever been a word said, written or implied that the ones ridiculing these assassins were as you put it "Goodie Goodie church going students." That must be either your personal opinion or someones you respect. It is unfair, and I believe very innacurate. I trust I may have answered some of your questions. I hope I haven't seemed critical of your opinion, for you have a right to yours as we all have a right to ours. Good luck in your future teaching career. I taught high school for a number of years. It's a challenge. Gary

The average rating for this answer is 5.

jennled rated this answer a 5.

As of the goodie goodie thing, if you ask the students who were responsible for school shottings, that is what they will tell you. I just put it in my own words. Last night I was writing this at a very late late hour so I was half asleep and I appologize if I in anyway offended you, My main concern is that prayer in school would group students. I think if schools want to have a moment for a prayer they should call it another name such as just a 5 minute quite time before lunch where students can collect their thoughts for the day, pray if they would like, or just rest their eyes. By calling this "school prayer time" there would be a lot of hassel break out. So why not just solve everyone's problem on whether or not prayer should be in the schools by having a quite time. I am sure that you would agree on that! Thank you very much for your information.

Jennifer