In 1962, the Supreme Court ruled that state-sponsored prayers in school violate the students’ First Amendment rights. President Donald Trump has announced he will “bring back prayer” to schools because he believes religious liberty in schools is being threatened, according to Politico.
It seems Trump is very serious about this, considering that in his first term, he required educational agencies to confirm that they had no rules or policies against religion in their schools in order to receive federal funding. I did not even think rules like that could be made in the first place.
Press Secretary of the Department of Education, Savannah Newhouse, said that the department is looking forward to helping Trump promote religion in schools. The word “promote” is what scares me.
I am not affiliated with a religion, but I am not an atheist either. I have prayed before at dinner tables and before a few sports games; I have been to church, and that is fine with me. But just like everything else in this world, your religious status is a choice you should make, not someone else.
I do not even understand how a person or organization would promote religion in the first place. In my eyes, I know bigger things will be put in place by the Trump administration than just a few posters around the schools, like events and such.
I see both sides of the equation, though, despite both sides not being even. The LGBTQ+ community is a completely different thing than religion, but it makes sense as a comparison. As a society, we don’t force Pride upon people. There are clubs and groups at schools for LGBTQ+ members and allies to feel welcome. If this is similar to what Trump is aiming for with religion – although I doubt it – I see no harm.
But here’s the catch: In Trump’s statement, he gave no detail as to what he would be doing, other than that he would be putting new guidelines in place. The word “guideline” in the first place makes it seem like he plans on enforcing religion on people, which is definitely against a person’s First Amendment rights.
Should we as a society force religion upon people? No, but students being able to pray seems like something that should be allowed, as that seems like a First Amendment right, too – to have the right and choice of being religious or not.
At the most, maybe there could be designated spaces or areas where students could pray in their own time or between classes. They do not have to be new areas added onto schools and such, but maybe section off a classroom or something during a specific time so those who feel the need to pray have a comfortable space to do so.
There could also be clubs formed or Bible study groups in schools so that those who want to do these things have the option, if anything. I do not see the harm, but if “guidelines” are really being put in place, I am sure that what Trump is introducing will not be as optional.
Hayley Doda can be contacted at
hayley@kscequinox.com
