The date was June 25, 1962. On that date it was decided that prayer should not be allowed in the public schools in the United States. Since that time and even before then, morals and values that this country once had have plumaged further and further
down hill. As a result of this act by the citizens and government in the United States at that time, morals that were once upheld by families and young people in this country have declined tremendously. Prayer being taken out of our schools, is this the reason our schools have become so violent?
An article written in 2003 stated these facts. The top ten discipline problems in schools in the United States in 1940 were talking out of turn, chewing gum, making noise, running in the halls and cutting in line. By 1990, the top ten discipline problems were drug abuse, alcohol abuse, pregnancy, suicide, and rape.
Between 1962, when prayer was taken out of schools, and 1963, the Bible was removed from public schools. Pregnancy of girls 15 to 19 years of age began a landmark rise from 15,000 to 30,000 over a 20 year period. STD’s among students 15-19 years of age began a rise of 400 to 1,200 per 100,000 persons. SAT scores began to plummet from 970 to 890 in a 20 year period. Violent crimes began a landmark increase of 544%, from 200,000 to 1.4 million. Also in 1963, the United States led in violent crimes, teen pregnancy, voluntary abortion, illegal drugs, and illiteracy. All this happened within the first 2 years after prayer was taken out of schools.
A recent poll showed that the people surveyed thought that there was too little religious influence in the United States.
America was founded as a Christian nation and prospered under God’s blessing. Having recently abandoned its commitment to God’s unchanging truth and morality, however, America is now suffering a social breakdown. It is important for Christians in this nation to understand that our own rights are being rapidly stripped away, often in the name of “tolerance”.
What will be next for America? Will children soon not be able to say the pledge of America in their schools? Will they not be able to say “One Nation under God” either? What is next for our schools? What is next for our country?
On the date that it was decided that prayer in schools was unconstitutional, not only was prayer kicked out of the public schools in the United States, God was kicked out too. Once one big act is taken, slowly but surely everything that went along with that one act will disappear as well. Unless America repents and returns to “traditional” values and morals, America will suffer God’s judgment.