Active religious practices in public schools constitute one of the most controversial issues in the United States of America. Active religious practices include reciting prayers, reading passages from sacred texts such as the Bible and Quran, and singing religious songs. The first educational institutions to be established in the United States included Christian practices such as morning prayers and reading biblical texts during school assemblies. However, controversies about religious practices in public schools emerged where students from minority religions in the United States were forced to practice Christianity. Consequently, various legal battles emerged concerning religious practices in public schools culminating into the Supreme Court ruling of Engel v. Vitale Case of 1962, where school administrators were prohibited from endorsing religious practices. Despite the Supreme Court ruling, whether religious practices should be allowed in school has continued to be controversial. Active religious practices should not be allowed in public schools because they violate students’ religious rights and freedoms.
Various arguments have been used by proponents to support the endorsement of religious practices by public school administrators. First, proponents claim that religious practices such as school prayers and reading sacred texts would help students to develop moral characters. Since mandatory prayers were prohibited in public schools, students’ morality has continued to decline to make most of them participate in immoral and unethical practices. For instance, there have increased cases of cheating in exams, sexual immorality among teenagers, suicide rates, and gun violence due to a lack of moral obligation on the part of the students. Secondly, students would be encouraged to practice their religious faith if school administrators were allowed to share their religious experiences. Educational tutors serve as role models and mentors to students. Most students encounter various learning experiences with the guidance of their teachers. Therefore, prohibiting teachers from mentoring students spiritually would create an impression on the students that religion is not essential, resulting in spiritual decline.
Also, prohibiting school administrators and students from school prayers and reading religious passages from sacred books violates freedom of speech. Various school administrators, such as teachers and game coaches, have individual freedom of expression. This freedom of expression includes allowing them to express their religious faith. Therefore, prohibiting teachers and coaches from expressing their religious beliefs through reciting prayers or sharing their religious beliefs through reading passages from sacred texts violates their constitutional rights. For instance, various school coaches have been fired because of praying for their teams. Besides, some valedictorians have been attacked because of reciting a prayer during a graduation speech. Therefore, denying personnel from sharing their religious faith violates freedom of expression.
Even though various reasons have been endorsed by proponents of active religious practices in public schools, such activities should not be allowed because they promote religious discrimination. For instance, supporting active religious practices provides privileges for Christian traditions while suppressing those of other religions such as Judaism, Buddhism, and Islam. Most founders of the United States of America were affiliated with the Christian faith. Besides, Christianity has continued to be the dominant religion in the United States, making Christian practices to be normalized, unlike those of other religions. Most proponents of active religious practices practice religious discrimination by encouraging Christian practices such as reading Biblical texts, singing texts, and praying in Jesus’ name while suppressing practices of other religions such as Islam. Therefore, the rights of students who are affiliated with minority religions such as Islam and Buddhism are violated by being forced to participate in religious activities that they don’t believe.