Posted on 02/14/2011 12:04:23 PM PST by wmfights
Sixty five percent of American adults favor prayer in public schools, according to a new survey.
And only 24 percent of U.S. adults say they are opposed to prayer in schools, finds the Rasmussen Reports survey released Friday.
The national telephone survey conducted on 1,000 adults from Feb. 3 to 4 simply asked, “Do you favor or oppose prayer in public schools?”
Compared to last year’s findings, this year’s prayer in public school survey results are slightly higher. Last April, 61 percent of Americans said they favor prayer in public schools.
About the same proportion of Americans who say they pray at least once every day (61 percent) support prayer in public schools (65 percent).
But less American adults this year say religious faith is at least somewhat important in their daily life compared to last year (73 percent versus 80 percent, respectively). The new survey finds 54 percent of Americans say religious faith is very important in their lives, while 23 percent say faith is not very or not at all important in their everyday lives.
The issue of prayer in public schools has long been a point of contention for separation of church and state activists.
But despite activists’ efforts, every year millions of students gather at their schools’ flagpoles to pray. In 2010, more than 3 million students participated in the “See You At the Pole” grassroots prayer movement that allows students to intercede for their leaders, schools , and families.
This year, SYATP will take place on Sept. 28.
So?...It is Ok then for government to FORCE children to think godlessly? It is OK for government to FORCE children to compartmentalize their faith? Huh?
How can THAT be religiously neutral??? Huh?
Answer: It isn't!
It is axiomatic! A religiously neutral education is impossible. NO government school in this nation is religiously neutral. ALL government schools teach children to think godlessly. ALL government schools establish the atheistic religion of secular humanism.
And...Unlucky taxpayers get to pay for these government temples of godless worship ( misnamed “schools”).
Drip drip drip. :-)
One person at a time sees the plain evidence of homeschooling. With evidence that is how minds are changed.
What a horrible mangling of the actual argument.
I prayed every day of public school, at the flagpole.
The Constitutional issue is if there should be Teacher led, school endorsed and/or mandated sectarian prayer in school.
Yeah — what happens if it turns out that the school’s prayer begins “Allah Akbar...”?
When we first started discussing the issue it was the three of them against me. During the discussion I was arguing for neutrality by the schools. They were of course arguing for school prayer. I then asked them what prayer would we use. The protestant argued that the majority should decide. I then stated the fact that the largest single denomination in the country is catholic and suggested we start the day with a prayer to mary. The protestant was of course aghast and blurted out that catholics weren't real christians. Needless to say after that I had two new converts to my side.
I understand that in your world view there is no neutrality. However, the government schools you degenerate so much have made this the wealthiest and most free nation in the world. The big problem I see with the public schools is we try to do the impossible. Unlike the rest of the western world we try to get everyone to graduate from high school and be college prep.
As far as going entirely to private schools most state constitutions require that the state provide a public education to all children. Therefore you would have to get a state constitutional amendment passed to get rid of public schools.
...I was arguing for neutrality by the schools.
...the government schools you degenerate so much have made this the wealthiest and most free nation in the world.
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Teaching children to think and reason godlessly, and/or teaching them to compartmentalize their faith is NOT religiously neutral. It **IS** establishing the godless government sponsored religion of secular humanism.
Here are a few questions and comments:
—Where are the double blind studies that prove government schools are responsible for the wealth and freedom of this nation?
— It is possible the if children did NOT attend socialist schools they would be far less comfortable with socialism as adults.
—How do you know that government schools have produced wealth? Hm? Perhaps we are wealthy for other reasons.
—Maybe we are wealthy IN SPITE of the damage that government has done to education.
— Where are the controlled scientific studies that show specifically where learning happens? Is it in the classroom, or is 99% of what is learned due to the parents and the child IN THE HOME?
— Without these controlled studies how do we know if children would have actually done better if they spent less time in school and more time at HOME? It is possible that government schooling actually retards social, emotional, and academic progress. The phenomenal success of homeschooling seems to indicate that institutionalizing children does indeed retard their development.
—Is is possible that the only thing government schools do is send home a curriculum for parents and children to follow, grade projects, and administer tests of the knowledge acquired in the home?
Muslims like the idea of prayer in School as well.
Vouchers have been ruled constitutional by the U.S. Supreme court.
If state constitutions require the existence of collectivist, socialist-funded, voting mob and comrade committe managed ( school board, prison-like, government schools, then there is an internal conflict between compulsory government schooling and the U.S. First Amendment and any state First Amendments.
ALL government schools are in complete and utter conflict with the First Amendment and freedom of conscience.
ALL government schools trash free speech, free press, free assembly, free exercise of religion, and establishment of religion.
And you know that in many school districts across the country that’s exactly what would happen!
I went through the Canal Zone government school system. Mondays through Fridays we faced the flag, which was in every classroom, and recited the Pledge of Allegiance and sang a patriotic song. The song depended on the grade level. For example, what six graders sang was more complicated than what first graders sang.
Sundays were for Sunday school or whatever one chose to do outside the school system concerning religion. Period.
To this day, I have never, ever understood and do not accept forcing prayers into the public school system by overzealous religious people who want to impose their beliefs on everybody else.
That is what Sunday school is for. Public schools are public and not private institutions and not some arm of a religious group.
How would these same religious groups like to be forced to pray Muslim prayers in public schools?
Can I help you understand that having a god=free ( godless) school is NOT religiously neutral?
Fundamentally, a religiously neutral education is impossible. Every school must choose between two religious worldviews: God-centered or godless. Neither is religiously neutral in curriculum and policy content or in consequences for the child and the nation.
God-free ( Godless) schools force children who have a specific faith to think in a godless manner and/or to compartmentalize their faith. Godless schools establish the religion of secular humanism.
I do understand that you did attend godless government schools. It has been my experience that many who have attended godless government schools simply have a very hard time wrapping their minds around the idea that their schools were not, never have been, and can not be religiously neutral.
Ref. post #20.
That is why there is Sunday School and one’s family at home.
If I were a confirmed atheist, which I am not, I should not have to put up with any kind of religion shoved down my throat in a public school supported by taxpayers and not supported by any religious groups.
This isn't **my** “opinion”.
It is impossible for a sentient being to be religiously neutral. ALL sentient humans have a religious worldview. It is either godless, agnostic, or God-centered.
In the same way it is impossible for any school to be religiously neutral. It is impossible for government schools to be religiously neutral.
For this reason, we should begin the process of privatizing K-12 education. Vouchers, tax credits, and charters can help in the process of building a completely private infrastructure. Eventually, we should strive for complete separation of school and state.
This isn't **my** “opinion”.
It is impossible for a sentient being to be religiously neutral. ALL sentient humans have a religious worldview. It is either godless, agnostic, or God-centered.
In the same way it is impossible for any school to be religiously neutral. It is impossible for government schools to be religiously neutral.
For this reason, we should begin the process of privatizing K-12 education. Vouchers, tax credits, and charters can help in the process of building a completely private infrastructure. Eventually, we should strive for complete separation of school and state.
P.S.
Ref post #20 again.
You need to start you own school.
Those with God-centered worldviews should not have a godless worldview shoved down their children's throats, nor should they be forced to pay taxes for this religiously non-neutral indoctrination.
Solution: Begin the process of privatization. Vouchers, tax credits, and charters can help build the private infrastructure needed. Eventually, we should move to complete separation of school and state.
I oppose prayer in government schools.
The government schools shouldn’t exist in the first place.
Would you like to prove that assertion?
Do you know what the word "degenerate" means?
I oppose prayer in government schools.
The government schools shouldn’t exist in the first place.
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YES! YES! YES!
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