Religious freedom means that students and their families—not school officials—get to make their own decisions about religion. That’s why nearly 60 years ago, the Supreme Court ruled that public schools may not sponsor prayer.
When school officials, teachers, and coaches sponsor prayers, students feel pressured to join in order to fit in with their classmates or get playing time. School-sponsored prayer makes students of other faiths and the nonreligious feel like outsiders. But equality means that people of all religions and none should feel welcome in their own public schools and at school events.
Despite broad public agreement that school-sponsored prayer has no place in public education, extremist legal groups are seeking to overturn decades-old precedent that prohibits schools from meddling in the religious lives of students.
A federal appeals court correctly ruled that Bremerton School District in Washington State protected students’ religious freedom when it stopped a high school football coach from leading students in prayer on the field immediately after games. AU now represents Bremerton in the ongoing appeals process.
Teachers, parents, and students all have rights that protect them from religious coercion and enforced prayer in public schools. Americans United explains it in our “Know Your Rights” guides, and encourages you to report violations here.
The Constitution is clear: students have the right to pray and they have the right not to be coerced into a religious practice of a faith they do not follow. As long as it is voluntary, student-led and not disruptive, prayer has never been banned from public schools.
