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Some private or religious schools hold religious assemblies, including religious services such as the Roman Catholic Mass, that permit prayer outside of the classroom, away from intellectual pursuits.

Some private or religious schools hold religious assemblies, including religious services such as the Roman Catholic Mass, that permit prayer outside of the classroom, away from intellectual pursuits.

Prayer was encouraged, allowed and practiced in [[U.S.]] public schools from colonial times until 1962, when the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] in ''[[Engel v. Vitale]]'' banned school-led prayer, citing the [[First Amendment]]'s prohibition on the government respecting an establishment of religion a precedent for its ruling.  The UK has a little-observed legal requirement that all pupils "shall on each school day take part in an act of collective worship," except where the parent of the pupil has asked for the pupil to be excused from this.<ref> [http://www.england-legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/ukpga_19980031_en_7#pt2-ch6 School Standards and Framework Act 1998 part 2 chapter 6]</ref>  

Prayer was encouraged, allowed and practiced in [[U.S.]] public schools from colonial times until 1962, when the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] in ''[[Engel v. Vitale]]'' banned school-led prayer, citing the [[First Amendment]]'s prohibition on the government respecting an establishment of religion a precedent for its ruling.  The UK has a little-observed legal requirement that all pupils "shall on each school day take part in an act of collective worship," except where the parent of the pupil has asked for the pupil to be excused from this.<ref>[http://www.england-legislation.hmso.gov.uk/acts/acts1998/ukpga_19980031_en_7#pt2-ch6 School Standards and Framework Act 1998 part 2 chapter 6]</ref>  

[[Atheistic]] groups herald this as a great victory for their ideology, as since 1962 U.S. taxpayers have been compelled to fund and support a nominally secular but effectively atheistic position for the 90% of [[American]] students who attend [[public school]].  Supporters of the decision claim that there is a "separation of church and state" in the [[U.S. Constitution]], echoing the phrase used by Jefferson in his letter to the Danbury Baptists,<ref>http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/9806/danpre.html</ref> though no such phrase exists in the actual text of the [[First Amendment]] (the relevant part of the [[United States Constitution|Constitution]]).

[[Atheistic]] groups herald this as a great victory for their ideology, as since 1962 U.S. taxpayers have been compelled to fund and support a nominally secular but effectively atheistic position for the 90% of [[American]] students who attend [[public school]].  Supporters of the decision claim that there is a "separation of church and state" in the [[U.S. Constitution]], echoing the phrase used by Jefferson in his letter to the Danbury Baptists,<ref>http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/9806/danpre.html</ref> though no such phrase exists in the actual text of the [[First Amendment]] (the relevant part of the [[United States Constitution|Constitution]]).

It has been demonstrated that when classroom prayer is allowed, a corresponding drop in crime, teen pregnancy, drug use, and obesity occurs, further bolstering the argument to allow prayer in the classroom. <ref>http://www.helium.com/items/1792560-the-impact-of-banning-prayer-from-the-public-school-classroom </ref><ref>Halverson, Delia T. ''Teaching Prayer in the Classroom: Experiences for Children and Youth.'' Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1989. Print. </ref>

It has been demonstrated that when classroom prayer is allowed, a corresponding drop in crime, teen pregnancy, drug use, and obesity occurs, further bolstering the argument to allow prayer in the classroom.<ref>http://www.helium.com/items/1792560-the-impact-of-banning-prayer-from-the-public-school-classroom</ref><ref>Halverson, Delia T. ''Teaching Prayer in the Classroom: Experiences for Children and Youth.'' Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1989. Print.</ref>

== Examples of wrongful suppression of student prayer ==

== Examples of wrongful suppression of student prayer ==

Since 1962, and primarily since the 1990s, many students across the U.S. who engaged in prayer have found themselves targeted by overzealous teachers and school administrators.

Since 1962, and primarily since the 1990s, many students across the U.S. who engaged in prayer have found themselves targeted by overzealous teachers and school administrators.

In 1994, at Waring Elementary School in St. Louis, Missouri, fourth-grader Raymond Raines was sent to the principal's office after a teacher spotted him bowing his head in prayer before lunch. Raymond was eventually separated from his classmates and given a week's detention for his continued prayers.<ref>http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=34772</ref> His mother, Ellen Raines, eventually withdrew Raymond from the school and enrolled him in a private school where he could practice his faith without persecution.<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9806E4DC1139F933A25751C1A962958260</ref>. The [[liberal]] ''[[New York Times]]'' editorial page admitted that punishing a child for silent prayer would violate the [[First Amendment]]'s Free Exercise clause.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/10/opinion/personal-prayer-is-not-illegal.html "Personal Prayer Is Not Illegal"  ''New York Times'' Dec. 10, 1994]</ref>

In 1994, at Waring Elementary School in St. Louis, Missouri, fourth-grader Raymond Raines was sent to the principal's office after a teacher spotted him bowing his head in prayer before lunch. Raymond was eventually separated from his classmates and given a week's detention for his continued prayers.<ref>http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=34772</ref> His mother, Ellen Raines, eventually withdrew Raymond from the school and enrolled him in a private school where he could practice his faith without persecution.<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9806E4DC1139F933A25751C1A962958260</ref> The [[liberal]] ''[[New York Times]]'' editorial page admitted that punishing a child for silent prayer would violate the [[First Amendment]]'s Free Exercise clause.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/1994/12/10/opinion/personal-prayer-is-not-illegal.html "Personal Prayer Is Not Illegal"  ''New York Times'' Dec. 10, 1994]</ref>

On May 5, 1995, U.S. district judge Samuel Kent issued a ruling against students uttering the name of Jesus during prayer at a high school graduation in Texas, stating, "And make no mistake, the court is going to have a United States marshal in attendance at the graduation. If any student offends this court, that student will be summarily arrested and will face up to six months incarceration in the Galveston County Jail for contempt of court. Anyone who thinks I'm kidding about this better think again. Anyone who violates these orders, no kidding, is going to wish that he or she had died as a child when this court gets through with it."<ref>http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=56479</ref>

On May 5, 1995, U.S. district judge Samuel Kent issued a ruling against students uttering the name of Jesus during prayer at a high school graduation in Texas, stating, "And make no mistake, the court is going to have a United States marshal in attendance at the graduation. If any student offends this court, that student will be summarily arrested and will face up to six months incarceration in the Galveston County Jail for contempt of court. Anyone who thinks I'm kidding about this better think again. Anyone who violates these orders, no kidding, is going to wish that he or she had died as a child when this court gets through with it."<ref>http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=56479</ref>

''See also [[Education in the United Kingdom]]''

''See also [[Education in the United Kingdom]]''

Many UK state schools, particularly Primary (Elementary) schools are Christian schools and have daily prayers and hymns at the beginning of the day, although [[atheists]] typically object to and prevent classroom prayer in UK schools just as in the United States. Over 1 million children in Britain attend schools connected with the [[Church of England]]. Such schools are funded by the government but attached to churches and as such, the children attend a religious service at least once a week during school time for a service where they pray together and receive blessings. Church schools are recognised for their distinctive Christian ethos and the impact this has on standards and all round education. The proportions of Church schools regarded as 'outstanding' (by Ofsted, the independent schools regulator) is much higher than the national norm and yet the Church schools are fully inclusive. <ref>http://www.churchofengland.org/education/church-schools-academies.aspx</ref>

Many UK state schools, particularly Primary (Elementary) schools are Christian schools and have daily prayers and hymns at the beginning of the day, although [[atheists]] typically object to and prevent classroom prayer in UK schools just as in the United States. Over 1 million children in Britain attend schools connected with the [[Church of England]]. Such schools are funded by the government but attached to churches and as such, the children attend a religious service at least once a week during school time for a service where they pray together and receive blessings. Church schools are recognised for their distinctive Christian ethos and the impact this has on standards and all round education. The proportions of Church schools regarded as 'outstanding' (by Ofsted, the independent schools regulator) is much higher than the national norm and yet the Church schools are fully inclusive.<ref>http://www.churchofengland.org/education/church-schools-academies.aspx</ref>

==References==

==References==

[[Category:Political Terms]]

[[Category:Political Terms]]

[[category:Establishment Clause]]

[[Category:Establishment Clause]]