The American government's relationship with religion and faith is sometimes a paradox. The separation of Church and State, as prescribed in the U.S. Constitution, is one of the sacred principles of the American governmental system. Yet God's name is everywhere: on the coins in Americans' pockets, on the back of every dollar bill, in most state constitutions, at the end of every Presidential speech, and at the start of every school day in the Pledge of Allegiance. The United States is loudly proclaimed to be "one nation under God" and many Americans beseech the heavens, "God bless America."

Why then, wonder some religious leaders, are teachers not permitted to lead their students in prayer during the school day? They point to falling church attendance and rising incidences of teen pregnancy and youth violence as proof that children need spiritual guidance, and they assert that formal prayer in school is an ideal way to build character, instill values, and reverse the negative social trends of the last decades.

Others argue, however, that while the First Amendment guarantees students' rights to pray anywhere they choose as individuals, it also prohibits teachers or administrators from organizing formal prayer during the school day. As Nancy Gibbs wrote in Time magazine, "The idea of guaranteeing 'free exercise' of religion while shunning any 'establishment' of religion was designed to protect liberty and keep the peace."

Since McCollum v. Board of Education in 1948, the Supreme Court has consistently ruled against religious indoctrination in public schools. The Court has prohibited schools from including prayers and devotionals in their curricula, has curbed readings from the Bible, and has barred student-led prayers at public school events. However, the Equal Access Act of 1984 requires schools to allow extra-curricular religious clubs if the schools also permit the existence of other clubs not directly related to school curriculum.

Conservative religious groups continue to fiercely campaign for more religion in schools, while separationists strive to uphold a stringent interpretation of the First Amendment. In 1998, Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley said, "Public schools can neither foster religion nor preclude it. Our public schools must treat religion with fairness and respect and vigorously protect religious expression as well as the freedom of conscience of all other students. In so doing our public schools reaffirm the First Amendment and enrich the lives of their students."

Think you know where you stand on this issue? During the course of this activity, we will ask you four more times: Should American public schools be allowed to set aside daily classroom time for student prayer? Based on your responses, we will argue the opposite points of view. Only your final vote will count toward the results of this poll.