Prayer in public schools has become a hot subject of debate for those arguing over the separation of church and state. The first amendment of the constitution is supposed to calm this battle by having a separation of church and state, but what happens when a player says a prayer before his football game in front of thousands of people? Is anyone offended? Who supports him? Everyone is guaranteed the right to pray voluntarily, but a public school cannot require someone to say a prayer. School prayer is such a questionable issue because the nation is dealing with peoples" beliefs and religious tolerance. This controversy of taking prayer into ones hands and doing what one feels best is what has caused such uproar in the courts and classroom. .
First we must look at what aspects are involved in school-prayer. This country was founded on the idea of religious freedom. .
Many Americans are descended from immigrants who came to these shores to escape government interference in religion. While some colonists set up equally oppressive state churches of their own, and persecuted Quakers, burned "witches," collected taxes from nonbelievers to pay their preachers, the simple fact of religious pluralism in colonies like Pennsylvania and Rhode Island made it imperative that people of different faiths learn to mind their own business (Steele 1). .
Our supreme court constantly has to make decisions on prayer in schools and athletics. However, some people seem to take matters into their own hands.
Today, public schools allow religious affiliated groups to meet as if they are any club. Schools are not allowed to start the day with a prayer leading towards any one certain religion. Public schools cannot pressure anyone to pray or be a particular religion. "Many people want to have a moment of silence set aside for prayer at the beginning of school. This may not be fair to many beliefs of students in that it is meant for prayer.
