Pros and Cons of Prayer in School

There is an ongoing debate about whether prayer should be a part of the daily school or not. Some believe, there should be no religious dimension to education, while others argue in favor of prayers in school. Obviously, the idea of having prayers in school has its pros and cons. Looking at from a certain perspective, prayers in school are quite beneficial. But there is another angle to it that renders the prayers in school unnecessary. The argument continues. Let us look at the pros and cons of prayers in school.

Pros of Prayers in School
It is important to base education on moral values and principles. Making prayers a part of the daily schooling is indeed beneficial. It fosters a moral and an ethical spirit in the school children. Prayers have a power of creating a pious atmosphere that helps instill certain values such as humility and discipline in the students. This helps the school children realize the essence of the ethical values. Prayers in school encourage the students to believe in the value system the school and follow it.

Banning prayers in school could mean depriving the school children of their freedom of religion. Banning prayers is equal to being non-religious. According to those who think in favor of prayers in school, think of prayers as an essential element of the school routine. For them, it seems quite irreligious not to recite a prayer everyday, especially at the start of your school day. Moreover, prayers give the students an opportunity to observe their religion. School children are in a way motivated to respect their religion. School prayers give the students a platform to live by their values. Prayers in school thus reiterate the principles, which the children follow at home.

Those favoring the concept of the recital of prayers in school think that a school should not only train its students academically but should also cultivate the minds of the children. Prayers can help the school authorities to inculcate fundamental moral values in the students’ minds.

Cons of Prayers in School
Some do not feel the need to include prayers in the daily school activities. In their view, in a government-funded school, the religion followed by the government is unknowingly forced upon the school children. It is rather a violation of the principle of the freedom of religion. Prayers in school thus become a compulsion, no longer remaining a healthy practice. Moreover, there is already a provision for students to pray during their free time. This is sufficient to enable them observe their religion.

Those in disfavor of prayers in school feel that school is only an educational institution. They see no utility of religion becoming a part of it. They think it right to only academically train the students and not get involved into the religious aspect of their mind. Prayers can rather give rise to feelings of religious discrimination and inequality in the minds of the children. Students are unnecessarily exposed to the religious differences between each other.

The ones who disagree with the concept of prayers in school believe that school prayers eat up the time of the day. The time can rather be utilized in other courses or studies. Prayers are already a part of the values at home. Bringing them to the world of schooling in no way is beneficial. It might be too early an introduction to the idea of religion as such.

On the whole, every coin has two sides to it. It is up to each individual to believe in the pros of a concept or look at its cons. If the religious angle in prayers is hidden and the moral aspect highlighted, wont it be ideal to have prayers in school? Prayers are the means to unite, to contemplate about the values in life and a way to thank the Almighty for everything in life. School prayers, if put up before the children, with this aspect, will indeed constructively channelize their thoughts and emotions.