School Prayer

Abstract

Public schools in the United States are prohibited from directing religious performances such as prayer. The legal basis for this prohibition is the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, which requires that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof...." The first part of the first amendment which reads "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" is known as the Establishment Clause, while the second part "or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" is known as the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment. Though each of these clauses originally applied only to the central ...

Want to read the rest of this paper?
Join Essayworld today to view this entire essay
and over 50,000 other term papers

minorities would sometimes object to the distinct observations performed in the local schools. For instance, in the Edgerton Bible Case (Weiss v. District Board (1890)), the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in favor of Catholics who objected to the use of the King James Bible in Wisconsin public schools. This ruling was based on the state constitution and only applied in Wisconsin, but, like other challenges elsewhere in the country, provided a precedent for federal rulings to come later.[3]

The legal climate for school prayer in the US began to change in 1955, when the New York Board of Regents developed a prayer recommended (but not required) for the school districts under its purview.[1] Seven years later, Steven I. Engels would bring action against Union Free School District No. 9 for its adoption and subsequent prescription of the so-called "Regent's prayer," arguing that it constituted the state-sponsored establishment of religion in violation of citizens' First Amendment ...

Get instant access to over 50,000 essays.
Write better papers. Get better grades.

Already a member? Login

CITE THIS PAGE:

APA
MLA
Chicago
Turabian

School Prayer. (2012, April 6). Retrieved April 22, 2018, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/School-Prayer/100614

"School Prayer." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 6 Apr. 2012. Web. 22 Apr. 2018. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/School-Prayer/100614>

"School Prayer." Essayworld.com. April 6, 2012. Accessed April 22, 2018. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/School-Prayer/100614.

JOIN NOW

Join today and get instant access to this and 50,000+ other essays

PAPER DETAILS

Added: 4/6/2012 03:03:46 PM
Submitted By: latoyagray
Category: Religion
Type: Premium Paper
Words: 855
Pages: 4

Save |

Report

SHARE THIS PAPER

SAVED ESSAYS

Save and find your favorite essays easier