Prayer in Public Schools: More Questions than Answers Censorship is a very broad topic. Is it good or bad? We often wonder whether such things should exist because of First Amendment rights. It states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” (Amendments.) In Ginzberg v. United States, Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart stated: "Censorship reflects a society's lack of confidence in itself. It is a hallmark of an authoritarian regime..." Is he right? Does society lack self-confidence? Yes, there are some situations that need to be censored, such as pornography. However, is it necessary to censor religion in public schools? Censoring religion in public schools is wrong if it violates a student's right to practice their religion. A violation would be prayer at school. Public schools are supported by taxpayer money, so why would anyone want their taxes to support an institution that prohibits their children from praying? On the other hand, what non-believer would want his children to participate in prayer with taxpayers' money? Religion is an issue that many school districts want no part of, since feelings run so high on the issue and courts have traditionally given a strict interpretation of the constitutional separation of church and state in the classroom. (Heilik.) “Public education in America… is destroying democracy in America,” says Pat Robertson. He goes on to say that public schools are in a "death grip"... middle of paper ... the line should be drawn between one's right to pray and another's right not to participate. Works Cited Amendments to the Constitution. Article I. http://www.law.emory.edu/FEDERAL/usconst/amend.html.Edwards, June. Opposition to censorship in public schools Religion, morality and literature. Mahwah, New Jersey. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. 1998.Heilik, Dena. "Of censorship and religion". LIS 582 - Globalization, Diversity and Information. December 10, 1998. April 8, 1999. .Riley, Richard W. U.S. Department of Education: The Secretary. January 26, 2000. http://www.ed.gov/Speeches/08-1995/religion.html.Rudder, John. School prayer. Internet Infidels 1995-2001. December 31, 1999. http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/church-state/prayer.html.