Victoria+Weaver

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"West Orlando News Online." Scott Signs School 'Prayer Bill' into Law. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2012. . Christian Athletes: Before the Games Begin "Government vs God?!" - Eden Political Cartoons. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2012. . ** Should prayers be allowed at a secondary schools sports events? **

=I took interest in prayer at sports events because as a member of my school's student council I know personally what it means to most students and faculty when our student body follows the tradition of leading a prayer before the game begins. Now, this prayer happens to be the same at all sporting events so that their is no confrontation about the favoritism to certain religions. I as a student leader feel that having this prayer shows the integrity and character of our school, and that in no way is it crossing the boundaries between the separation of school and state. We are not asking you to like our prayer, or to convert to a certain religion, we just want the respect of our right to freedom of religion which is an unalienable right given to us citizens of America.

and stances on controversial topics ||= - Targeting, bullying, hazing ||
 * = Pro: ||= Con: ||
 * = - Prevents controversy among the student body and faculty ||= - Isolation of separate religions ||
 * = - Allows students to express personal opinions
 * = -Provides a sense of community within the school ||= - religious views being forced upon students ||

Cases Researched: -Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe : The issue at hand in this case is that parents of members of a student body protested and went to court because they wanted to get rid of the innovocation privillage before football games. The court ruled in favor of the students and claimed that the district's policy was unconstitutional. -Chandler v. James : The issue at hand in this case was that the right to student led innvocations was revoked by school administrators. In counter action to this, a group of students banned together and held their own innvocation on the sideline without the involvemnt of a faculty leader. The lower courts ruled that yes indeed the studetns could have the invocation but the officals took it to supreme court where the ruled that the lower courts ruling would stand. -Lee v. Weisman : The issue at hand with this case is that a principal wanted to bring in a Rabbi to speak at graduation and parents tried to argue that he should not be allowed. The rabbbi spoke anyway and then the case was taken to court.In lower courts teh parents of the student won, and when the school tried to take it to supreme the cours once again ruled with the parents. **__ What I think: __** I have the right to express my religious views. I will stand for them no matter what. We are constitutionally allowed to express freedom of religion. People travel and escape to America in belief that they can finally praise whatever god or gods they believe in without persecution. Because we state in our constitution that that is appropriate and acceptable. Yet, here we are today telling Jews, Muslims etc., how to express their beliefs like we run this world. A separation line is indefinitely put up to prevent controversy. I Understand that fully and accept that. But, we can not expand the line just because we are fearful of stating our opinions. So if we set it one way we must follow it that way to changing or conforming in any way. We must be consistent in our rulings. Constitutionally, we were given certain freedoms. Were those freedoms fought for in vain? The way society is trying to repress invocations into the background today; we might in fact just push them away for good. And what’s a country without a religious foundation? Chaos.

**__ Works Cited: __** "First Amendment Schools: The Five Freedoms - Court Case." First Amendment Schools: Resources for Students, Teachers, Administrators and the Community. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Dec. 2012. "Freedomforum.org: Supreme Court Lets Alabama Student-prayer Ruling Stand." Freedomforum.org: Supreme Court Lets Alabama Student-prayer Ruling Stand. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2012. "Freedom of Religion and the Establishment Clause." National Paralegal College - Online Paralegal School - Degree and Certificate Programs. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Dec. 2012. "Prayer at Public School Sporting Events." American Center for Law and Justice. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2012. "Prayer at School Events Silenced." Timesfreepress.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2012. "Prayer Before Sporting Events." AllAboutPopularIssues.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2012. "Religious Freedom Page: Lee v. Weisman." Religious Freedom Page: Lee v. Weisman. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2012. "Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe | Casebriefs." Law Cases & Case Briefs for Students. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2012. "Students! Know Your Rights." Students! Know Your Rights. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2012.