Preview

Annie Laurie Gaylor's Argument Against School Prayer

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
963 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Annie Laurie Gaylor's Argument Against School Prayer
Amy Hua
English 1A TTh 1:45-3:10
Professor Marvin
School Prayer
Annie Laurie Gaylor argues against school prayer in her article “The Case against School Prayer” (Elements of Arguments, 679). When religion is included in daily school routines, it divides students into different beliefs. Public schools are meant to be open for all people to get an education, but not to influence them into a new religion. Requiring students to practice prayer in public schools is a violation of Freedom of Religion. Public schools should not practice prayer because there is a diversity of religions in the United States and the Constitution of the First Amendment. Students in public schools get distracted from judgment of religion, but that is why there are places where schools may freely practice religion, such as private schools.
Due to the diversity of religions, along with dissimilar practices, schools should continue their public structure leaving religion entirely out. Public schools educate the belief of God, which might …show more content…
“…when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret” (Bible, Matt. 6:5-6). School prayers add conflict to education in many ways. As a result of the vast amount of religions in the United States, there are conflicts caused my disagreements of religion. “Japan, where no one prays at school, had the lowest crime rate of any developed nation” (Gaylor, 683). Religion should only be taught in private schools or organizations. The First Amendment was made for Freedom of religion, press, and expression, meaning that everyone has a right to pray, but not for public schools to convert the students into believe a certain religion. I strongly agree on Gaylor’s viewpoints of school prayers because I was felt in the same situation in the past. Public schools should stay open to different
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    We Need More Prayer In Public Schools: Article Analysis
    • 1173 Words
    • 5 Pages

    We Need More Prayer In Public Schools: Article Analysis

    However, society stills considers this a contentious debate that shows this is still a sensitive topic among religious and non-religious Americans. Armstrong Williams writes in his article “We Need More Prayer”, “A few moments of prayer in schools seems a small thing - harmless enough, almost to the point of insignificance. Yet it has provoked an impassioned firestorm of debate about the dangers of imposing viewpoints…” Prayers is school may be innocent enough but it can and does marginal religious minorities. These debates being had throughout the country on the topic of religious prayers in public schools is an issue that almost certain will end in a stalemate. There are far too many voices that are being heard regarding this issue and none seems to be willing to compromise. But this is a good thing. People can agree to disagree and this is good for the country. Expression and speech are two great rights we have as US citizens and we have the right even compelled to use said rights. However the Government is not made up of one individual who has one voice and speaks for all. It is made up of many people with many voices that speak for everyone. Religious prayer simply cannot exist in schools because there are too many religions. It has too many voices of faith and faiths which hosts many different deities. Government and areas of public learning should just…

    • 1173 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Case Against School Prayer Rhetorical Analysis
    • 327 Words
    • 2 Pages

    The Case Against School Prayer Rhetorical Analysis

    For this first Essay, I will analyze “The Case against School Prayer” written by Annie Laurie Gaylor. I will analyze this essay based on The Toulmin model, which rely heavily on fact, value, and policy, as well as the Aristotelian Rhetoric, which draws upon logos, ethos and pathos. In the Toulmin model the main focus will include claims of fact, which are supported by data throughout the essay, and also claims of policy, which stress a change in allowing prayer to continue in public schools. The Aristotelian Rhetoric Focus will primarily be based upon logos, and ethos, because Gaylor’s essay relies heavily on her credibility. The use of logos is seen in that she quotes…

    • 327 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Engel Vs Vitale Case Study
    • 1065 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Engel Vs Vitale Case Study

    The second question of the case is whether or not the reading of the prayer violates the Establishment Clause. The Establishment Clause prohibits laws that respect an establishment of religion by congress. Some parents argued that by having the students and teachers recite the prayer, the public was showing that the government was “respecting an establishment of religion”.…

    • 1065 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Engel V. Vitale: the Beginning of the Battle Against School Prayer Essay Example
    • 992 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Engel V. Vitale: the Beginning of the Battle Against School Prayer Essay Example

    The New York Board of Regents penned the following prayer to be spoken in New York public schools: “Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers, and our Country” (Unger and Unger 223). The prayer was intended to be simple, inoffensive, and inclusive but the reaction was quite the opposite; the controversy that ensued became the stepping-stone for one of the most controversial topics of modern day activism and politics. Mr. Justice Black delivered the assertion that, “it is nether sacrilegious nor antireligious to say that each separate government in this country should stay out of the business of writing or sanctioning official prayers and leave the purely religious function to the people themselves and to those the people choose to look to for religious guidance” (Unger and Unger 226). I disagree with the idea that religion does not belong in the publics school systems of America; however, I feel as though the governing powers should leave religion to those who care to partake in it.…

    • 992 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Compare And Contrast Engel Vs Vle
    • 1697 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Compare And Contrast Engel Vs Vle

    “Engel and four other parents -- two Jews, an atheist, a Unitarian, and another Protestant -- complained that the prayer was "contrary to the beliefs, religions, or religious practices of both themselves and their children." (Religion in public schools: Engel v. Vitale) After the five parents discussed this topic they came up with a case, and at the end found victory. ” The duty to uphold the Constitution is a fundamental difference between public schools and religious schools.” (Religion and Public Schools).…

    • 1697 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Inherit the Wind: Should Religion Be Taught Freely in Public Schools
    • 611 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Inherit the Wind: Should Religion Be Taught Freely in Public Schools

    Religion, politics, ethics should be prohibited to be taught in public schools. Should not be taught in public schools because it could corrupt students’ minds, it could offend people and cause conflict that could result into a very violence senareo between parents vs teachers and teachers vs students and that it would be a big battle and result in the hands of the court.…

    • 611 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Cambridge High School Case Study
    • 523 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Cambridge High School Case Study

    Is that what people really want? Then go ahead and end school prayer? “In 1962, the U.S supreme court made rulings that removed prayer and bible reading from public schools. But in the aftermath of the rulings, the nation endured one of the world's longest sustained increase in juvenile crime in its history.” (Michael Cantrell, “Should students be allowed to pray in school”) That one simple prayer can help millions. This is a prime example of the benefits that come out of group prayer. Look at what is happening. Crime is decreasing due to praying. That sounds like a win win. To simplify, Prayer equals less crime. The government or the “Prayer police.” is taking that right, right out of innocent peoples little hands. The government should think about others feelings, not just their own. Us americans we can't stand for that. It is proven by fact that Praying in groups or alone can help for the common good, it reduces…

    • 523 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Why Do I See School Prayer As A Moral Issue?
    • 806 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Why Do I See School Prayer As A Moral Issue?

    I see school prayer as a moral issue because although it does state in the constitution the separation of church and state, I believe that this issue is just a conflict between religious people and liberal people that don’t believe in religion. I think it is morally wrong to force someone into a religion but I don’t see how prayer does that, if you don’t believe then don’t do the prayer and that is all. B. It is not proper for one religion to impose its morality and doctrine on another if and when they are doing it out of legal bounds, besides that I believe it is acceptable to say what you…

    • 806 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Phi Delta Kappan Article

    • 290 Words
    • 1 Page

    Phi Delta Kappan Article

    This article was very surprising to me I was amase at what the findings from the survey were when it come to prayrer at public school graduations. The majority of prayer at public school graduation came from state in the south followed by states in the Midwest. State in the east came in third and sadly were I live state in the west came in last. But the most surprising and positive statistic came from the percentage of students that were involved in prayer at public school graduations, that percentage was 70 percent. That means that 70 percent of the time prayer at public schools was given by a students, which is a great number for our youth. It was also suprising that only 114 of the 4231 school districs had an actual policy regarding prayer at school. This was an interesting article I agree with what the author had to say but it was more about how schools were conducting prayer.…

    • 290 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The First Amendment and Its Impact on Education Essay Example
    • 648 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The First Amendment and Its Impact on Education Essay Example

    Some say that school children understand that the Pledge of Allegiance is a patriotic exercise and not a religious one. Others are under the argument that a prayer in school or at school ceremonies puts the students and attendees in the midst of a religious ceremony. For example, graduation ceremonies typically will make some sort of religious reference whether through a speech or a prayer, but students do not have to attend graduation, they do have to attend school where the debate is over the Pledge. Some are arguing that the Pledge and other examples that are being used to show how religion has made its way into government functions are simply ceremonial and patriotic. Others argue that this interferes with the…

    • 648 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    The First Amendment: Should Religion Be Taught In Public Schools
    • 1845 Words
    • 8 Pages

    The First Amendment: Should Religion Be Taught In Public Schools

    Over seventy-six percent of the adolescents in America believe in a personal God (Regnerus). Despite this fact, the stigma surrounding the debate of separating school from religion mostly brings religious talk in education to a stand-still. Religion has presented itself in society for as long as history has recorded life in societies, and many individuals still practice their faith. In today’s society, however, teachers and educators rarely mention religion outside of Social Studies classes in public school systems. Yet, science has proven that allowing religion in lives affects and improves the quality of life. Public schools should allow religion because the presence increases test scores, results in better behavior, and leads to an overall happier life.…

    • 1845 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Civil Liberties
    • 1046 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Civil Liberties

    The First Amendment to the U.S. forbids government entities, such as the public schools, from favoring religion or prohibiting it unnecessarily. There is a thin line…

    • 1046 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Separation In America
    • 798 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Separation In America

    If there were a curriculum based around religion, it would most likely be about Christianity and that is bound to make certain people uncomfortable and forgotten. The bottom line is we all do not worship the same god(s)so it would be ridiculous for the government to take preference to one over the other because of all the differences between all religions. If church and state were to mix it would be a major setback in the social and scientific community's with all religions convinced that their god or gods are the true god or…

    • 798 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Argumentative Essay On Prayer In Schools
    • 1004 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Argumentative Essay On Prayer In Schools

    The world today has many issues and conflicting arguments. One of the arguments that has caught my attention is whether or not there should be prayer in school. According to Rebecca Klein, with (HuffPost Education), in the year of 2014 around 61% of Americans agree with daily prayer in school. While on the other hand, 37% of Americans do not agree with having prayer in school. To me, the schools in the United States should be allowed to have prayer in school because; morals should be taught, to restore Christianity, and to give the students the opportunity to express their feelings.…

    • 1004 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Argumentative Essay On Religion In Public Schools
    • 459 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Argumentative Essay On Religion In Public Schools

    Even though we have this separation, there have been debates for decades calling for changes. This argument is strongest when it comes to the public school system. There have been controversies over prayer in schools, teaching of evolution, and displaying the Ten Comandments.In the article “Does religion have a place in public schools?” it states, “Indeed, while public schools, which are run by the government, must allow students to express their own religious views, the First Amendment prevents the schools from endorsing religion or creating an environment that forces students to participate in religious exercises.” The only schools that are exempt from government laws are private schools. They can promote any religion they wish. There…

    • 459 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics