Why should prayer be allowed in schools?

Answer 1

Yes, everyone should have their right to express their Freedom of Speech in any place, they like too. But if someone politely requests to stop the prayer, because it's offending to him/her, it should be stopped

Answer 2

Another answer from our community:

Although this is slightly outside the context (ie the USA), it might be of interest to the asker of the question to know that in the UK corporate prayer is expected in schools. Even today, in an increasingly secular society, it is the law here that all schools should begin (or have sometime in the day) a daily, corporate 'act of worship'.

For many schools this constitutes a daily Christian service which includes prayer, and where many children hear of Jesus Christ for the first time, having never heard of him at home. In others, especially in areas of mixed religions, the act of worship is interfaith, or on a rotational basis, or of a moral nature rather than overtly religious.

Nevertheless, omitting a daily act of worship is against the law. Some schools have flouted this, but usually find that, come inspection times (which are unannounced) they are indicted by the inspection teams for doing so. A third context is in countries like Australia, where the various beliefs and non-beliefs of students are respected, so that there is no common prayer but scripture classes are offered to those who wish to attend. Scripture classes are tailored to the needs of the various denominations and non-Christian religions of the student bodies.

Answer 3

Opinion

Prayer should be allowed in religious schools. Parents who wish their children to participate in prayer sessins during schooltime should have the option of sending them to privately funded religious schools.

Prayer sessions should not be allowed in state schools. However individual students may choose to pray in private, and need not inform the teachers of their actions.

Answer 4

Private prayer is allowed in United States government schools. It is only when prayers are public or part of the school agenda, that they are found to be contrary to the Constitution. That public prayer is not permitted by the Constitution can not be blamed on any one group, either those who do not believe in the Abrahamic God, or those who insist in praying in their own way - it is just the way the Constitution is. Private prayer is allowed and should continue to be allowed, as long as those who choose to pray do not infringe on the rights of others.

Although the United Kingdom is no longer a religious nation, schools are still required under a 1944 Act of Parliament to provide a daily act of Christian worship. However, most government schools never follow this requirement, and 60 per cent of British adults do not support enforcement of the law.

Answer 5

Opinion. Prayer in schools should only be allowed in religious schools because different religions have different prayers and there would be problems with students that were in a minority religion.