Banning of Prayer in USA public schools: The lack of prayer has contributed to the decline of moral values - Research Paper Example

?Banning of Prayer in USA public schools: The lack of prayer has contributed to the decline of moral values Introduction: Banning prayer in public school has remained a burning issue for near about 50 years for now. Apparently the issue seems to be an easy one to deal with but considering the tremendous controversy that it has generated in last 50 years; it deserves special attention. Prayer to god is a pious thing and participation in that prayer at a formative period of life is nothing but a pious act that will eventually help in building the moral base of the participants. However often a straight stick looks crooked if emerged in water and the opposite is no exception either. According to many scholars and common people alike the ban of prayer in public schools is justified considering the fact that the state should abstain from encouraging religious acts among its people. This is quite strange for a country like United States of America, which is a stringent opponent of communism; as by far only the religious neutrality of communist countries have gained much notoriety. The proponents of prayer in public schools believe that distancing from god at a formative period of life is responsible for the rise in unwanted pregnancy, divorce rate and rte of crime in successive years. The present paper along with enshrining light to the historical background of the mentioned issue; also states the present status of the same and discusses the social effects of banning prayer in public schools. History of banning prayer in public school: The very first controversy regarding prayer in public schools erupted in 1830s. Many Italian and Irish Catholics came to USA at that period and questioned the justification of the compulsion regarding the “readings of Protestant King James Bible and the recitation of Protestant prayers” (Jew Watch) in most of the public schools of that time. This resulted in a chaotic situation that included unnecessary expulsion of students with Catholic backgrounds and burning of convents. There was also some news of unfortunate deaths. The modern day controversy regarding banning of prayer in public schools of USA began at New York. This happened after the constitution of nondenominational prayer by the Board of regents of New York State with a view to use it in class room after the flag salute. The prayer was like “Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers, and our country.” (Conflicting rights and religious liberty: The school-prayer controversy in Alabama, 1962-1985) By that time the American society became far more diversified than before in terms of religion and protest against such religious issue was only moments of wait. The first protest came from a parent of ten children living in New Hyde Park though was rejected by the courts of New York following the reason that children participation in those prayers was not compulsory. The case was forwarded to USA Supreme court as Engel v. Vitale and was ruled in favor of the objection. Justice Hugo L. Black stated that the practice violates the establishment clause. Later in the very next year while ruling in School District of Abington Township v. Schempp case, it has been established that it is also a violation of the First Amendment. The first Catholic President of America John F. Kennedy also supported the ruling “We have in this case a very easy remedy, and that is to pray ourselves. And I would think it would be a welcome reminder to every American family that we can pray a good deal more at home, we can attend our churches with a good deal more fidelity, and we can make the true meaning of prayer much more important in the lives of our children”. (Jew Watch) This way the Supreme Court’s decision long back in 1962 barred 39 million students from offering prayer at their respective schools to the All mighty (Bergel). This famous or infamous verdict by Supreme Court against the prayer in public school is known as Engel ruling. Since it has been passed efforts have repeatedly been made to prevent the Engel Ruling from operating supreme over all other laws. Repeated resolutions have been placed in USA Congress against Engel Ruling but with little or no effect and this rule forms the basic ground against practicing prayer in public schools in USA. (Jew Watch) The gradual success of Engel ruling in stopping prayer in public schools of USA can be found from the fact that “reports in the mid-1960s indicated that 70 to 95 percent of southern schools continued with state-sponsored prayer or Bible reading or both. In one 1973 study cited by the New York Times, a survey of school superintendents revealed that 10 percent of the nation's schools and about 28 percent of southern schools were continuing with school- sponsored prayers in morning assemblies.” (Conflicting rights and religious liberty: The school-prayer controversy in Alabama, 1962-1985) This indicates a sharp decline in practice of prayers owing to the enactment of the Engel law. Good or bad the enactment of Engel law initiated mixed reactions among the USA population and is keeping the same tune even today. Many considers it as the most powerful step towards the practice of religious freedom but many considers it as “prohibiting religious activities discriminated against religion, violated a cherished religious and national heritage, and deprived individuals of their right to express their faith publicly” (Conflicting rights and religious liberty: The school-prayer controversy in Alabama, 1962-1985) Arguments in favor of banning prayer in public school: The supporters of banning prayer argue that in a country where multi religion flourishes; compelling someone irrespective of his religion to offer prayer to a Christian god is unjustified. Again it also interferes with the right of parenthood. An atheist parent might not like their child offering prayer to god at all and if praying at public school is made compulsory then that interferes with the way that particular parent might like their child to be brought up. Again praying in school comes directly into conflict with the First Amendment. As far as discussing and surrendering to a religious belief is concerned; students are free to practice that outside the school arena. The constitution however does not give any right to the students that he/she can impose their beliefs on others in a captive arena like school. Experts have also opined that the practice of prayer in public school also comes directly into conflict with the Establishment clause. They have vouched for a neutral government and a clear separation between the government and religious activities of any form following the Free Exercise Clause. (Conflicting rights and religious liberty: The school-prayer controversy in Alabama, 1962-1985; Jew Watch) They have opined, “Government-sponsored prayer is not the answer. Rather, we must submit to the command to "let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Brooks). Arguments against banning prayer in public schools: The aforesaid sugar quoted words are no doubt eye catching and nice to listen but holds minimum merit to them who have opined against the banning of prayer in public schools. Proponents against banning prayer in public schools argues that eventually this will lead to distancing from god that USA being a religious nation must not support. According to them a god-fearing nation and its people must not support such a verdict by the Supreme Court. Most critically as mentioned by Gary Bergel, “The removal of prayer from our schools was a violation of the third commandment which commands us “not to take the name of the Lord in vain.” By the judicial act of forbidding invocation, the Court audaciously elevated a secularized system of education beyond the authority, reach and blessing of God Himself. Worse than taking the Lord’s sacred name in vain is treating it with contempt, denying it rightful place and stripping it from public use and even from the lips of children. Jesus’ own expressed desire, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them” was also violated by these judges, many of whom were raised in Christian homes.” (Bergel) Irony is at its pinnacle. Status of USA after the banishment of prayer from public schools: The most important part of the present paper is to find out the impact if any on USA society of this banning of prayer in USA public schools. David Barton has graphically illustrated the American plunge into the abyss regarding “righteous living, prosperity and success” (Bergel) after the banning of prayer in public schools back in 1962. The radical decline that USA has experienced after that heinous act against god considering the areas that were subject to the prayers of the children (youth, family, education, national life) can easily be witnessed. More strikingly after the election of Ronald Reagan as USA President back in 1980 all these fronts had recovered a bit owing to the effort that the President has lead in rejuvenating the traditional values. (Bergel) Steve Beaman used the statistical data found and formed by David Barton to illustrate the actual catastrophe the USA society has undergone after barring prayer from school. The moral degradation in Young people can be found through using this statistical data. 15 years preceding the Engel’s law rate of pregnancy in teen age girls within the age group of 15 to 19 was no more than1.5%. However this has witnessed a rise of 187% in next 15 years. The situation is even grimmer for girls between 10 to 14 years that was up by 553%. Again sexually transmitted disease amidst students was a mere 0.4% prior to 1963 that has experienced a rise of 226% in next 12 years. (Beaman) The suicide rate among the age group of 15-19 and 20-24 remained stable from 1946 to 1962, but since it has increased by 253% till date. That implies an annual growth of 10.5% per annum. (What Happened to Our Public Schools?) If instead of young people families are concerned the situation would not experience any improvement. The rate of divorce that was experiencing a decline for 15 years prior to the Engel’s law; witnessed a 300% growth each year for succeeding 15 years. Live together instead of marriage among couples rose by 353% illustrates another disturbing social phenomenon. The immediate result of high rate of divorce that is single parent and single parent with child has also risen by 140% and 160% respectively since 1963. In the educational sector after the Engel’s law, deterioration is well reflected for consecutive 18 years through a declining SAT score of the students. Furthermore this SAT score made a somewhat comeback in 1974-75 when thousands of Christians schools that followed prayer were established. The higher-level SAT score at private Christian schools than the public schools also reveals a clear positive picture regarding religious practice and prayers in school. If we consider the eminent national scholars we will find that most of them come from a religious private school rather than a public school. The nation as a whole has also passed through a rough time since the enactment of the Engel’s law. Rate of violent crime has increased by 544% since 1963; drug related crime and legal abortions have also risen at a high scale. (Beaman) US schools have experienced repeated shootouts amidst their arena and that portrays the anarchy ruling there. A survey led by the Department of Education analyzing the violence at USA public schools - “reported that public schools nationwide experienced more than 11,000 fights in which weapons were used, 4,000 rapes and other sexual assaults and 7,000 robberies. Other reports from Time and Newsweek magazines tell us the suicide rate among U.S. teens has risen 120% in the last 15 years while drug use has risen almost 80% since 1992.” (Joy 4Christ) Conclusion: After considering both sides of the argument regarding banning of prayer in public schools of USA and especially after the careful consideration of the statistics that encompassed several social variables; it is quite clear that banning has contributed to the moral decline of the USA society. This happened owing to the distance between almighty and the common people that Engel’s law managed to form at a formative period of life of those people. The role of prayer cannot be ignored while embracing a peaceful environment and no doubt the present USA society is on a look out for that peace. Christian teachings through the prayers in private school might be flourishing but the huge number of students who visit public school are bereft of that nectar of soul. Enough harm has been committed and enough blood has been shed, it is the right time to interfere and do the needful that might change this law and bring something more encouraging at schools that will boost the moral base of the students at the very beginning of their life. References Bergel, Gary, Banning Prayer in Public Schools Has Led to America's Demise, The Forerunner, 1988, April 23, 2011 from: < http://www.forerunner.com/forerunner/X0098_Ban_on_school_prayer.html> Beaman, Steve, What Happened to Our Public Schools?, 2010, April 23, 2011 form < http://www.stevebeamangroup.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=304:what-happened-to-our-public-schools&catid=62:schooling-options&Itemid=103> Brooks, Greg, The Prayer Panacea, Liberty Magazine, May/June 1997, April 23, 2011 from: http://www.libertymagazine.org/index.php?id=1583 Conflicting rights and religious liberty: The school-prayer controversy in Alabama, 1962-1985, Alabama Review, April 23, 2011 from: Jew Watch, ACLU, 1998, April 23, 2011 from < http://www.jewwatch.com/jew-organizations-aclu-churchandstatebrief.htm> Joy 4Christ, They Took Prayer & Bible From Public Schools And Now They Have Shootings!, Bukisa, 2010, April 23, 2011 from: http://www.bukisa.com/articles/277109_they-took-prayer-bible-from-public-schools-and-now-they-have-shootings What Happened When the Praying Stopped?, The Forerunner, 2008, April 23, 2011 from < http://www.forerunner.com/forerunner/X0124_When_America_stopped.html> Read More