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Argumentative Essay: Prayer In Public Schools

399 Words2 Pages

Prayer in public schools became an issue in 1960. Madalyn Murray O’Hair sued the Baltimore, Maryland school system on behalf of her son William J Murray, because he was being forced to participate in prayer in schools. Ultimately, her actions and the actions of the American Atheist Organization resulted in the Supreme Court ruling of 1962. In the light of this information, it is necessary to extend to the government some individual rights to promote individual growth and I would like to offer the following resolution:
“Prayer in Public Schools is justifiable.”
My value term for today’s debate is Justifiable.
My value criterion is Individualism.
I would like to offer the following definitions:
Public school- any elementary or secondary …show more content…

Forbidding the majority the right to pray in public schools in the tyranny of the minority.
a. Three-quarters of American favor prayer in public schools (Riffkin).
b. 77 percent of Americans support public school facilities being available after hours for student religious groups to use (Riffkin).
2. Forbidding prayer in schools discourages religion.
a. The first amendment encourages religion (Center).
b. In the first half of the First Amendment religious freedom is encouraged (Center)
3. There is a strong correlation between the expulsion of prayer from school and the decline in morality.
a. Former Secretary of Education, William Bennett revealed that between 1960 and 1990 there was a steady moral decline (Eliassin).
b. During this period divorce doubled, teenage pregnancy increased, teen suicide increased, child abuse reached an all time high, violent crimes went up, and abortion increased (Eliassin).

Conclusion
Therefore, in conclusion, I would like to state that the need to exercise individual rights for the furtherance and growth of individuals makes prayer in public schools justifiable. I have proven that the removal of prayer from public schools infringes on individual rights, and affects the morality of individuals. I must therefore contend that “Prayer in Public Schools is

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