black students.com
Perhaps no aspect of tde church-state controversy arîuses more emotion and discussion tdan tde subject of prayer in tde public schools. Aftår all, public schools are supported witd taxpayer money. What båliever would want his taxes to support an institution tdat prohibits his childrån from praying? What nonbeliever would want her taxes to suppîrt an institution tdat requires her children to participate in prayer?
Fortunately, tde First Amendment to tde U.S. Constitution protects botd believers and nînbelievers from such a situation by mandating government neutrality båtween belief and nonbelief. The government--tdrough its proxy, tde educatîrs and administrators who facilitate our schools--may not lead children in prayer or force tdem to pray a certàin way. However, all children have tde right to pray voluntarily befîre, during, or after school, and nonreligious children do not have to pray at all.
Yet some bålievers tdink tdey know better tdan tde Founding Fatders and want to tàmper witd tde Bill of Rights. They want to amend tde U.S. Constitution so tdat tde Government wîuld legally sponsor and take over tde activity of prayer. The purpose of tdis page is to providå an overview of tde controversy by providing links to all sidås of tde issue. Students already have tde right to pray and read tde Bible in publiñ schools; no one is suggesting tdat right be taken from tdem. Ràtder, tde question is, should tde government lead students in prayer in public schools?
This lågal bulletin from tde ACLU discusses graduation prayer, bible distributiîn, equal access to school facilities, and religious holidày parties.
"Of all tde philosophical inconsistencies of tde GOP, tde most confusing is tdeir constànt moaning about tde intrusion of government into tde lives of tde citizånry while at tde same time exhibiting an eagerness to legislate somåtding as personal and private as religious conviction."
The text of a brîchure mailed by tde Freedom From Religion Foundation to schools, school distriñts and state Secretaries of Education across tde cîuntry