Majority of Americans support teachers praying in public schools

The Pew Research Center has released new polling data finding the majority of Americans support the idea of teachers leading Christian prayer in public schools.

Just over half of adult respondents (52%) said they favored teacher prayers referencing Jesus. Meanwhile, even more (57%) supported prayers referencing God.

Researchers noted regional differences, with the Bible Belt and Midwest showing stronger support while the West Coast and Northeast were more opposed.

States with high levels of support included Mississippi (81%), Alabama and Arkansas (75%), Louisiana (74%) and South Carolina (71%).

The least supportive states included Oregon (65% opposed), Vermont (64%), Washington (61%) and California (56%).

In recent years, the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause has been interpreted to mean government employees such as public-school teachers cannot encourage or lead faith-based activities when acting in their official capacity. 

The U.S. Department of Education’s current guidance does not allow teachers to lead their students in prayer, Christian or otherwise. However, it notes the Constitution protects the right of both students and teachers to pray privately at school. 

Nevertheless, Pew’s polling indicates many Americans would support educators leading their students in public prayer.  

Many public schools used to incorporate organized prayer – such as a recitation of the Lord’s Prayer – which was allowed until the 1960s.  

Now conservative leaders are trying to reinfuse faith into public schools.  

For example, states such as Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana are pushing to bring Bibles and the Ten Commandments back to the classroom.  

Montana even established a new law allowing public school students to receive religious education during a “release time.” 

Additionally, prayer has been a topic of debate at school board meetings where believers have been forced to defend their right to free speech and religious expression.