IssuesMatch: Organized Prayer In Public Schools

IssuesMatch

Organized Prayer In Public Schools

POSITIONS

Strongly Support means you believe: Judeo-Christian values are American values. Belief in God is what America was founded upon, so praying in school or other public places does not violate the separation of church and state.
Support means you believe: We need to teach values in our schools. The more our children are exposed to prayer, the Ten Commandments, and other traditional values, the better off they are.
Oppose means you believe: Prayer in schools in inappropriate because it fails to recognize American pluralism and religious diversity.
Strongly Oppose means you believe: Separation of church and state precludes allowing school prayer. It also precludes other aspects of religion in schools, such as posting the Ten Commandments in public places. We should not violate the Constitutional principle in this case.

This question is looking for you views on how religion should play a part in public institutions. However you answer the above question would be similar to your response to these statements:

Post the Ten Commandments in public schools
"Separation of church and state" does not mean "keep religion out of schools"
Nativity scenes on City Hall lawns are acceptable

BACKGROUND

School Prayer: Current law is that schools allow religious groups to organize on school grounds as if they are any club. Schools are not allowed to conduct prayers at the beginning of school, but neither are they allowed to stop a student from praying.

DOE: The Department of Education spent $38 billion last year (2% of the federal budget). But federal spending only accounts for 9% of education spending; most of the annual $600 billion comes from state & local sources.

Amendment I to the US Constitution
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.... (1791)

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