Types of Prayer Banned in Public Schools

Prayer in public schools has been a hot issue in American society for many years. The U.S. Constitution is critical in shaping how we approach prayer in schools. The U.S. Supreme Court has made several decisions about prayer in public schools. They often cite the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. This Clause aims to maintain a separation between church and state in the United States.

Under the First Amendment's Establishment Clause, schools are government agents. They can neither encourage students to practice a religion nor restrict students' practice of religion. This is why many prayers in school, no matter how innocuous they seem or how generally they may apply, are not allowed in school.

This article briefly overviews the types of school prayer that aren't allowed in public schools.

The Rationale for Banning Prayer

The government can't force anyone to practice a religion or attempt to persuade someone to believe in any religious tenets. Public school officials are government employees. They have great power over a particularly vulnerable class of citizens, specifically schoolchildren.

The courts have long believed (and science now confirms) that children are less able than adults to criticize the information provided by others rationally. While at school, they are also a captive audience because children are legally required to attend school. Students who buck authority face social exclusion or, worse, official punishment. These social, biological, and legal pressures make it almost impossible for a child to avoid listening to a school-led prayer.

The power to remove oneself from prayer is important, even though the "harm" stemming from prayer may be difficult to perceive. Teachers and administrators who lead students in prayer often do so out of a genuine desire to help their students. The discipline and moral lessons learned from religion seem worthy as values to impart to students. Prayer may be a tempting way to introduce students to these concepts. But, school-led prayer forces a child who believes in a different god, or no god at all, to take part in a religion that they do not believe in. This is impermissible under the First Amendment.

Prayer, Public Schools, and the First Amendment

In the landscape of American public and secondary schools, the First Amendment creates a complex but crucial framework. It allows for religious exercise and religious expression in America. The U.S. Constitution protects religious freedom through the First Amendment. The First Amendment has two relevant components: the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause.

The Establishment Clause prevents Congress from creating state-sponsored religion. It prohibits any "establishment of religion" by the government. This includes public schools. The Freedom of Speech and Free Exercise clauses allow people to practice their religious beliefs freely. For instance, a school board in Texas can't institute school-sponsored prayer or a religious activity. But, students still have the right to engage in individual religious expression. This is true as long as the exercise doesn't disrupt the educational environment.

The Supreme Court uses these clauses to protect religious liberty and free speech. In school settings, the aim is to avoid religious activities that might make some students feel excluded or pressured to join a certain faith. The goal is to maintain a separation of church and state and to ensure everyone's religious freedom and protection.

Types of Prayer Banned

Any activity that causes the school to advance one religion, or group of religions, over another is not allowed under the First Amendment. These types of activities include:

• Mandatory prayer: Forcing children to pray during school hours or school events
• Teacher-led prayer: A school employee recites a prayer with the expectation that students will repeat the prayer. Or they expect the children to think about and reflect on the words.
• Invocations and other prayer at school functions: Prayer by clergy, school employees, or school officials during school-related events such as football games and graduations
• Voluntary prayer: Time set aside for students to pray
• Student-led prayer: Students may not use school resources, including the PA system or class time, to lead other students in prayer

Notice that prayer is not wholly banned from school grounds. Students may pray privately anytime they wish as long as it does not disrupt the school day. The school's duty is not to inhibit the free exercise of religion. It protects this right.

For example, Christian students may say grace or a short prayer before meals. They might also pray before tests. Likewise, Muslim students may pray throughout the school day. Schools must allow it if their prayer does not disrupt the learning environment.

For more information, see FindLaw's sections on Student Speech and the Types of Schools children may attend.

Legal Cases Banning Prayers

There have been several court cases that have set the legal precedent in this area of law. Engel v. Vitale (1962) is among these important cases. This case happened in New York and set the stage for many Supreme Court decisions to come. The court ruled that school-sponsored prayer, even non-sectarian, is unconstitutional. Non-sectarian means not specific to any religion. This decision set a precedent that public schools could not organize or endorse religious practices.

Other important cases include Abington School District v. Schempp (1963). These cases took place in Pennsylvania and involved Bible reading in schools. The Supreme Court ruled that Bible reading as part of a school's curriculum is not a protected right and is against the Constitution's Establishment Clause. In Wallace v. Jaffree (1985), the court struck down an Alabama state law. This state law mandated a moment of silence for "meditation or voluntary prayer." The court stated that this law was an attempt to endorse religious practices.

Consider the Lee v. Weisman case (1992). This case involved graduation ceremonies. The court ruled that clergy-led prayers at public high school graduations were unconstitutional. In Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe (2000), the Supreme Court looked at the practice of students leading prayers over a public address system before football games. The court ruled that this was a form of school-sponsored prayer and thus was not allowed.

Finally, the U.S. Supreme Court made an important ruling in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District (2022). The court ruled in favor of a high school football coach. This coach had lost his job after praying on the field during football games. The court held that the government cannot prevent an individual from engaging in personal religious observances. Doing so would violate both the First Amendment's Free Speech and Free Exercise Clauses. This landmark decision underscores the court's interpretation that individuals do not lose their rights to free speech and the free exercise of religion at school. But, their actions cannot be seen as government-endorsed religious expression. As you can see, this area of law continues to evolve with time.

Getting Legal Help

If someone has violated your constitutional rights in a school setting, you can seek legal help. These court cases get resolved in federal courts, including the Supreme Court. It's essential to consult with professionals who understand the complexities of religious freedom, free speech, and the Supreme Court rulings that govern these issues.

Consult a legal professional about your related legal issue today.