Lesson 2: Religion & The Constitution

Topic:

Prayer in Public Schools

Background:

The New York State Board of Regents created a short prayer in 1951 as follows: "Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers, and our country." The Regents’ prayer was a recommendation, and one of the school districts that adopted it was Hyde Park, NY.

Parents of ten students in the district brought suit, claiming that the prayer was contrary to their religious beliefs and violated the establishment clause. The state courts upheld the prayer since no student could be forced to participate.

The Supreme Court, 6-1, reversed the state court, holding that the prayer was "wholly inconsistent with the Establishment Clause…It is no part of the business of government to compose official prayers …as part of a religious program carried on by government."

In Wallace v.Jaffre, the Supreme Court struck down (6-3) an Alabama law that permitted schools to set aside a moment for silent meditation, stating that its clear purpose was to return prescribed prayer.

Objectives:

Students will be able to:

  1. Determine the main arguments for and against school prayer that are contained in hypothetical letters to the editor.
  2. Discuss their opinions and reactions about the Court’s ruling in the school prayer case.
  3. Compare the school prayer and silent meditation decisions, discussing their opinions about the latter case as well.

Materials:

Handouts: 2A, "Engel v. Vitale (1962)," 2B "Letters to a Newspaper Editorial Page from Students in 1962."

Time Required:

1 class period

Procedures:
  1. Distribute Handout 2A, "Engel v. Vitale (1962)," and read and discuss it with the class.
  2. Distribute Handout 2B, "Letters to a Newspaper Editorial Page from Students in 1962." Have students read each letter and determine the main reasons that each student-Robert and Mary-present to support their views. Discuss which arguments seem more convincing while pointing out the difficulty of defining what is meant by an "establishment of religion."
  3. Point out to the class the actual decision in the case, case and have students offer their reactions.
  4. Mention to students that in the 1980’s, Alabama enacted a law to permit public schools to have a moment of silent meditation.
  5. Have students discuss whether the purpose was simply to restore prayer (which the Court held it was) and would also be unconstitutional. Have them discuss their reactions to the Court’s decision that the law was unconstitutional because the Alabama lawmakers had discussed passing the law as a way to bring back the opportunity for school prayer.

Performance Assessment:

Have students write a speech on whether prayer should be allowed in public schools. Select volunteers to deliver the speech to the class.

Further Enrichment:

Based on multiple intelligence theory.

Linguistic: Have students represent the newspaper in Handout 2B and write a response to the letters to the editor. In the response, students should summarize both positions in the letters and then explain the viewpoint of the newspaper.

Logical/Mathematical: Students should conduct a survey of the class to determine how many students support prayer in public schools and how many students are against it. Students can then use these numbers to determine the percent of students in the class who support and oppose prayer in public schools.

Kinesthetic: Ask students to engage in a minute of silent prayer. Have students who object state their objections. Students who support the minute of prayer, should try and persuade the students who object to participate.

Spatial: Divide the class in half. Have half the class design posters supporting prayer in public schools and half the class design posters opposing it. The posters should be multicolor and illustrate at least one of the arguments supporting or opposing school prayer. Students should be prepared to defend the position expressed in their poster.

Intrapersonal: Ask students how they would feel if they were told to pray in school.

Interpersonal: Divide the class into groups of equal size, with some students in the group supporting school prayer and some students opposing it. Have students discuss the issue. Each group should select a representative to participate in a class debate.

Musical: Students should recite prayers from different religions and discuss whether religious prayers should be taught in public school.

Handout 2A: RELIGION & THE CONSTITUTION

 

 

Handout 2B: RELIGION & THE CONSTITUTION

 

Letters to a Newspaper Editorial Page from Students in 1962

 

 

June 2, 1962

Dear Editor:

I am a fifth grade student. I am a Christian. However, I think that the Supreme Court should rule against the Regents prayer. The government should not organize prayers in public schools. I say a little prayer to myself when I take a test. I should not be pressured to say a government prayer. Praying should be a very personal decision.

Our teacher said the decision would be based on the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. She said that clause prevents the government from helping or harming religion. I think that requiring schools to have prayers would be encouraging religion. One of my friends, Marie, is an atheist. She said other kids noticed that she did not join the class in saying the prayer. She said it made her feel uncomfortable. I do not think she should have to feel embarrassed because she does not believe in God.

Most Americans favor having prayer in public schools. However, the Bill of Rights is supposed to protect the rights of individuals and minorities.

--Robert Green

 

 

June 2, 1962

Dear Editor:

I am in the fifth grade at Franklin. We learned in American history that many people came to America to escape religious persecution. I think that the Establishment Clause was to prevent the government from establishing an official religion. It should also be used to prevent the government from using taxes for religions. The First Amendment was added to the Constitution in 1791. Public schools did not even exist then. So the Supreme Court should not use it to prevent prayer in public schools.

Most Americans believe in God. Our money says, "In God We Trust." Everyday we say to the Pledge of Allegiance in school. The Pledge says "one nation, under God." Our government pays the salaries of chaplains. Our Presidents take an oath using the Bible. Congress begins with a prayer led by a member of the clergy paid by the government. So why can’t we begin our school day with a simple prayer to ask for God’s blessings? Besides, any student can choose not to participate.

–Mary Ryan