Prayer in Public SchoolsBy: Rachel Tracey

http://www.flickr.com/photos/timpearcelosgatos/3498307957/

Introduction

• Prayer in Public School’s is an ongoing debate on your Constitutional Freedoms

– PRAYER IN PUBLIC SCHOOL AND THE CONSTITUTION

» Does it violate the first amendment?

A Close Look at the First Amendment

What is the First Amendment?

•Prevents the government from trying to establish religion•Establishes limits on the conduct of public schools

Background Info

• The history of prayer in public school all depends on how people legally interpret it

• For years congress has debated on whether or not prayer in public schools is legal

• Religion in school is governed by the First Amendment

Background Info• Religion in schools has been debated over

the past 40 years.

• One of the first cases wasEngle vs Vitale 1962

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootbearwdc/37621686/

Background Info

PUBLIC SCHOOLS SHOULD BENEUTRAL

NEUTRAL: That public school officials cannot show any favoritism nor hostility against things which express religion.EX. Prayers

Impact K-12 Education

PUBLIC SCHOOLSVS

PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Public Schools & Private Schools are treated differently in terms of prayer inside of the school.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijames/112866961/

Impact K-12 Education

• It affects the students in public schools.

• Is student initiated prayerLegal?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellochris/338056037/

Impact K-12 Education

Sports & Prayer

Clipart File

Future Direction

• There are always cases which are being brought forth the Supreme Court about prayer in public schools

• Many of these cases are refused to be heard by the Supreme Court

• An example of this is where Borden lead prayer for his football team and was told to stop

• He then sued and tried to appeal it to the Supreme Court, they refused to hear leaving it as a closed case

Future Direction

• One of the latest cases the Supreme Court heard in regards to prayer in school was Good News Club v Milford Cent Sch (2001)

• The court ruled that public officials have to be neutral in regards to religion in school

• The court concluded "there is a crucial difference between government speech endorsing religion, which the Establishment Clause forbids, and private speech endorsing religion, which the Free Speech and Free Exercise Clauses protect."

Conclusion

This will alwaysBe a huge

debate

-Affects teachers,School officials,

Parents, and students

Works Cited• Bennett, Tom, and George Foldesy. “Our Father in Heaven”: A legal Analysis of the Recitation of the Lord’s prayer by Public Schools coaches.” The Clearing

House March & April 2008: 185-89. Wilson Select Plus. Web. 24 Mar. 2010• Boston, Rob. “Faith and freedom: What’s Conservative about School Prayer?” The Humanist May & June 2009: 33-34. Wilson Select Plus. Web. 24 Mar. 2010• Sekulow, Jay. “Prayer in Public School- The Legal Precedents.” Popular Issues. Populars Issues/ ACLJ, 07 Feb. 2003. Web. 24 Mar. 2010• Source:• http://www.flickr.com/photos/timpearcelosgatos/3498307957/• Author: • Tim Pearce, Los Gatos• File Name:• American flag old glory on flagpole flying• Source:• http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootbearwdc/37621686/• Author:• dbking• File Name:• US Supreme Court• Source:• http://www.flickr.com/photos/ijames/112866961/• Author:• James Sarmiento• File Name:• Classroom Chairs• Source:• http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellochris/338056037/• Author:• Hello Chris • File Name:• School Bus Parking Lot, Coney Island