|
Prayer in school has been the topic of the century, “Is it right to pray in
school,” stated a Texas teacher. The society as a whole believes it is wrong,
but there is some people that thinks it would be a good addition to our school.
Maybe it will lower school violence. Yeah, right, whatever! Come on people, be a
little intelligent. Our country has had violence before we created prayer in
school. Religion will probably make it worse. Sociologists has taken a look at
this issue. They perceived it preposterous. Sociologist think if we had prayer
in school, might as well force us to read a bible and say amen every time a
teacher finishes a sentence. Prayer in school is ridiculous and absurd.
Sociologists opposes school prayer for a number of reasons.
To begin, it is unconstitutional and a clear violation of our First
Amendment. Remember, that amendment contains the Establishment Clause which
prohibits the government fromestablishing religion. Simply put, secular
institutions like the public schools should NOT be a forum for religious ritual
or indoctrination. And do a majority of people support school prayer? Often,
those results depend on exactly how the question happens to be asked. Surveys
suggest that most people reject the notion of mandatory prayer. But even if the
overwhelming majority thought that prayer was, somehow, a good idea, that does
not make the practice ethically just or constitutional.
Sociologists also points out, in opposing school prayer, that prayer is not
efficacious. School prayer is obviously a form of religious indoctrination; it
teaches children that there are invisible, supernatural entities which can be
implored and appeased through mumbling prayers or reading from holy books. Many
people believe that just because there is a bible, does it mean we have to take
it seriously. If we wrote a book and put it in a time capsule and send it back
4000 years ago it will become a religion. What about school initiated prayer?
Before getting excited about student initiated prayer, ask yourself: which
students are doing the initiating?
Student populations often reflect the diversity of the culture. Some students
may wish to pray in class or at official school ceremonies like graduation
exercises or sporting events, but are they being fair to other students who may
not wish to pray? Lately, there have been court cases involving this very
question. It is clear that even in areas such as Utah where a school may have a
high percentage of students from the same religious background, not all students
feel comfortable with this bogus student led religious ritual. If you see a huge
group of people praying will you join them? The survey says 1 out of 4 students
say yes. The reason is, they want to keep their friends. Sociologists believe
teen peer pressure is why this is the way it is. What about a moment of silence?
What for? Why do we need a moment of silence? School prayer boosters have
sometimes proposed this as a way of establishing a legal precedent which, they
hope, will eventually lead toward explicit and vocal school prayer.
|
