Can School Faculty Say Prayers Before Meetings?

Organized Prayer

• Public schools in the U.S. are secular, meaning they do not teach or promote one specific religion. The American Center for Law and Justice advises that organized prayer, whether among school faculty in the staff room or students in a classroom is unconstitutional in public school, according to U.S. law. Prayer of any form is allowed in Catholic and other schools of religious denominations. However, even private religious schools can not force teachers or students to pray.

Individual Prayer

• On the other hand, U.S. law declares that is a constitutional right for all individuals, teachers, staff and students to voluntarily pray privately in a public school. Students and faculty members may say a prayer on their own and express their religious beliefs if they desire. Personal prayers are acceptable as long as they do not interfere with the school's educational mission or disrupt classroom or meeting activities. However, faculty members should be aware that saying prayers out loud or discussing religious topics may seen as religious harassment or proselytizing by some co-workers. Individual student prayers must initiated by the student and not by a faculty member.

Controversy

• The Freedom from Religion Foundation makes the case that public schools exist to educate and not to preach or proselytize. Children are impressionable, and saying prayers may impose on their rights and be seen as coercive. The foundation advises that it is also inappropriate for public school faculty members to say prayers because this may be invasive and uncomfortable for staff who are not religious or of the same belief system. Introducing religion in any form is seen as causing division in a secular school or work environment.

Alternatives

• The LifeSiteNews website notes that many private religious schools in the U.S. have students and faculty who may not follow that religion or sect. It is acceptable for these schools to have organized prayers before staff meeting and school congregations. Although staff and students at a private Catholic, Muslim or Jewish school expect prayers in these types of institutions, both are still allowed to opt out of prayers. Faculty members at public can choose a secular poem or mission statement to inspire staff before meetings, instead of a saying a prayer.