Changes

Early on in his presidency, Reagan brought up the issue of prayer in schools, which was banned in 1962 by the Supreme Court in [[Engel v. Vitale]].  He proposed a constitutional amendment<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/18/us/reagan-proposes-school-prayer-amendment.html Reagan Proposes School Prayer Amendment], [[The New York Times]]</ref> that contained the following language: "Nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to prohibit individual or group prayer in public schools or other public institutions. No person shall be required by the United States or by any state to participate in prayer".

Early on in his presidency, Reagan brought up the issue of prayer in schools, which was banned in 1962 by the Supreme Court in [[Engel v. Vitale]].  He proposed a constitutional amendment<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1982/05/18/us/reagan-proposes-school-prayer-amendment.html Reagan Proposes School Prayer Amendment], [[The New York Times]]</ref> that contained the following language: "Nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to prohibit individual or group prayer in public schools or other public institutions. No person shall be required by the United States or by any state to participate in prayer".

Reagan revived the issue in 1984<ref>[http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=40205 Address Before a Joint Session of the Congress on the State of the Union], January 25, 1984</ref> noting the beliefs of the [[Founding Fathers]] on the importance of faith.  He said: "America was founded by people who believed that God was their rock of safety. He is ours. I recognize we must be cautious in claiming that God is on our side, but I think it's all right to keep asking if we're on His side."  Also in 1984, the Supreme Court reviewed a case regarding a moment of silence in schools.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2245&dat=19840712&id=vogzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dDIHAAAAIBAJ&pg=5416,1067751 Reagan urges school 'moment of silence']</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1984/12/05/us/high-court-weighs-silence-in-school-for-prayer-or-meditation.html High Court Weighs Silence in School for Prayer or Meditation], [[The New York Times]]</ref>  In [[Wallace v. Jaffree]], the court ruled 6-3 against.<ref>[http://articles.latimes.com/1985-06-04/news/mn-6462_1_voluntary-prayer High Court Bars Moments of Silence for School Prayer : But Would Approve Meditation], [[Los Angeles Times]]</ref>

Reagan revived the issue in 1984<ref>[http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=40205 Address Before a Joint Session of the Congress on the State of the Union], January 25, 1984</ref> noting the beliefs of the [[Founding Fathers]] on the importance of faith.  He said: "America was founded by people who believed that God was their rock of safety. He is ours. I recognize we must be cautious in claiming that God is on our side, but I think it's all right to keep asking if we're on His side."  Also in 1984, the Supreme Court reviewed a case regarding a moment of silence in schools.<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2245&dat=19840712&id=vogzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dDIHAAAAIBAJ&pg=5416,1067751 Reagan urges school 'moment of silence']</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1984/12/05/us/high-court-weighs-silence-in-school-for-prayer-or-meditation.html High Court Weighs Silence in School for Prayer or Meditation], [[The New York Times]]</ref>  In [[Wallace v. Jaffree]], the court ruled 6-3 against.<ref>[http://articles.latimes.com/1985-06-04/news/mn-6462_1_voluntary-prayer High Court Bars Moments of Silence for School Prayer : But Would Approve Meditation], [[Los Angeles Times]]</ref> Reagan recieved the support of boxing legend [[Muhammad Ali]] who said, " “He’s keeping God in schools and that’s enough."<ref>https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2016/06/10/when-muhammad-ali-endorsed-ronald-reagan/?utm_term=.e84c75ad95f2</ref>  

Toward the end of his presidency in 1987, Reagan called for Congress to act.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=NefcAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA56 Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Ronald Reagan, 1987]</ref>  In an address to congress on January 27, he said: "The 100th Congress of the United States should be remembered as the one that ended the expulsion of God from America's classrooms".<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1987/01/28/nyregion/high-court-accepts-appeal-of-moment-of-silence-law.html High Court Accepts Appeal of 'Moment of Silence' Law], [[The New York Times]]</ref>

Toward the end of his presidency in 1987, Reagan called for Congress to act.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=NefcAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA56 Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Ronald Reagan, 1987]</ref>  In an address to congress on January 27, he said: "The 100th Congress of the United States should be remembered as the one that ended the expulsion of God from America's classrooms".<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1987/01/28/nyregion/high-court-accepts-appeal-of-moment-of-silence-law.html High Court Accepts Appeal of 'Moment of Silence' Law], [[The New York Times]]</ref>