Prayer in Schools

One Nation Under GOD


Here in America, people are allowed to do anything they please as long as it follows the guidelines that the founding fathers created. The Bill of Rights and the Constitution were created to ensure that the people of the United States of America have rights as a human being and an American citizen. There are two freedoms that were hushed and frowned upon in a school recently, those freedoms were the freedom of religion and the freedom of speech. Freedom of Religion is the right to choose a religion (or no religion) without interference by the government. Freedom of religion is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution (2005, Houghton Mifflin Company). Freedom of Religion also says, "Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice, and teaching" -Article 18(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Freedom of Speech is the right of people to express their opinions publicly without governmental interference, subject to the laws against libel, incitement to violence or rebellion, etc (Random House, ND). Recently at a middle school in Caldwell County, a large group of students formed a prayer circle during lunch in the cafeteria. The students were told by teachers that it was, “a distraction to other students and that they should pray at their own lunch table and leave everyone else alone” according to a student who participated in the prayer circle. There are bills that have been created that protect a student's rights to have prayer in school.


Students Prayer Rights


According to the North Carolina General Assembly, Section 29 D, students are allowed to incorporate religious aspects into anything they do. § 115C-407.30. Student rights to engage in prayer and religious activity. A student shall be permitted to voluntarily do any of the following: (1) Pray, either silently or audibly and alone or with other students, to the same extent and under the same circumstances as a student is permitted to vocally or silently reflect, meditate, or speak on nonreligious matters alone or with other students in public schools. (2) Express religious viewpoints in a public school to the same extent and under the same circumstances as a student is permitted to express viewpoints on nonreligious topics or subjects in the school. (3) Speak to and attempt to share religious viewpoints with other students in a public school to the same extent and under the same circumstances as a student is permitted to speak to and attempt to share nonreligious viewpoints with other students. (4) Possess or distribute religious literature in a public school, subject to reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions, to the same extent and under the same circumstances as a student is permitted to possess or distribute literature on non-religious topics or subjects in the school. (5) Organize prayer groups, religious clubs, "see you at the pole" gatherings, or other religious gatherings before, during, and after school to the same extent that students are permitted to organize other non-curricular student activities and groups. Religious groups shall be given the same access to school facilities for assembling as is given to other non-curricular groups without discrimination based on the religious content of the students' expression. If student groups that meet for nonreligious activities are permitted to advertise or announce meetings of the groups, the school district shall not discriminate against groups that meet for prayer or other religious speech. A local board of education and local school administrative unit may disclaim school sponsorship of non-curricular groups and events in a manner that neither favors nor disfavors groups that meet to engage in prayer or religious speech. (6) Express beliefs about religion in homework, artwork, and other written or oral assignments free from discrimination based on the religious content of the submission. Homework and classroom assignments shall be judged by ordinary academic standards of substance and relevance and against other legitimate pedagogical concerns identified by the local board of education. A student shall not be penalized or rewarded based on the religious content of the student's work. (b) A student may be prohibited from engaging in the actions provided in subsection (a) of this section if the actions of the student would do any of the following: (1) Infringe on the rights of the school to (i) maintain order and discipline, (ii) prevent disruption of the educational process, and (iii) determine educational curriculum and assignments. (2) Harass other persons or coerce other students to participate in the activity. (3) Otherwise infringe on the rights of other persons. (2014-13, s. 1.)


Restriction of Prayer in Schools


There are steps that should be taken if there are problems with the students performing Christian acts in school. In the North Carolina General Assembly there are guidelines that have to be followed, Ҥ 115C-407.31. Administrative remedies and cause of action for complaints regarding exercise of religious activity. The local board of education may establish or make available an existing formal grievance process to allow students or the parents or guardians of students to present allegations that a right established under this Article has been violated by a public school. The formal grievance process shall include the right of appeal to the local board of education. (b) If a local board of education fails to provide a formal grievance process, the following process shall be provided: (1) A student or a student's parent or guardian shall state the complaint to the school's principal, who shall meet with the student or the student's parent or guardian, if requested. (2) If the student's concerns are not resolved by the meeting with the principal, the student or student's parent or guardian may make a complaint in writing to the superintendent of the local school administrative unit with the specific facts of the alleged violation. The superintendent shall investigate and take appropriate action to ensure the alleged violation of the rights of the student is resolved within 30 days of receiving the written complaint. (3) If the superintendent fails to resolve the student's concerns within 30 days, the student or student's parent or guardian may appeal to the local board of education as provided in G.S. 115C-45. (c) If a right of a student established under this Article is violated by a public school and the student has exhausted the administrative remedies provided in this section, the student may assert the violation as a cause of action or defense in a judicial proceeding and obtain appropriate relief against the local board of education. The action shall be brought in the superior court of the county in which the local school administrative unit is located. (d) No action may be maintained pursuant to this Article unless the student has exhausted the administrative remedies provided in subsections (a) and (b) of this section. (e) A student prevailing in a claim brought against a local school administrative unit for a violation under this Article or any action brought by a public school against a student for conduct covered by this Article shall be entitled to reasonable attorneys' fees and court costs. (f) The Attorney General shall intervene and shall provide legal defense of this Article in any action which includes claims challenging the constitutionality of this Article (2014-13, s.1.).


Differences


If people are allowed to protest outside of businesses and the White House about who the president is, the bills that are being passed, racial problems, and gay marriage, students should be able to stand up in a lunchroom in front of their peers and pray without be stopped because a teacher is uncomfortable. As an adult they should understand what the Constitution and the Bill of Rights say about freedom of speech and religion. If they are uncomfortable they are old enough to remove themselves from that situation. As a Christian, I do not support some of the controversial things that have been going on in the news lately, such as abortion, gay marriage, and LGBTQ.


What God says about Prayer


There are many many scriptures in the Bible about prayer. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth (Psalm 145:18). Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16). Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (James 5:16).


13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be (Psalm 139:12-16). As Christians we need to stand up for what we believe. We should not let others get in the way of what we believe. God is worth getting in trouble for, so speak up and stand out. We have rights and we need to use them. After all, the Pledge of the United States even says, we are, “one nation under GOD”!




Sources
47 Bible Verses about Prayer. Daily Verses.Net. (2016 Dec 4) https://dailyverses.net/prayer


NC General Statutes. Article 29D. Student Prayer and Religious Activity (2016, Dec 4)


http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/enactedlegislation/statutes/pdf/byarticle/chapter_115c/article_29d.pdf


"freedom of speech". Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 5 Dec. 2016.


<Dictionary.com http://www.dictionary.com/browse/freedom-of-speech>


BUREAU OF DEMOCRACY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND LABOR, OFFICE OF


INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. What Is Religious Freedom?. August 17,

2011 http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/fs/2011/170637.htm