For as long as people can remember, coaches at Upperman High School in Tennessee have been leading the team in prayer before football games. It has been a strong tradition and an accepted part of life.
At the beginning of this school year, the Americans United for Separation of Church and State complained about “several instances of prayer and proselytizing at events at Cookeville and Upperman high schools,” Administrators from the school district contacted the schools’ attorney, who informed them that the law about cases such as this one is clear: “Courts have consistently ruled that prayer and proselytizing can not be sponsored by schools or school personnel.” So, the county directed all coaches to refrain from leading the teams in prayer.
On Friday night, the students decided that they would lead the team in prayer. So, the players and cheerleaders from Upperman and Cookeville High School united on the field to pray. Parents also joined the athletes on the field to show their support.
Joe’s Perspective: I never had a coach lead me in prayer or had prayer as a part of our team. I can’t remember any team in our high school praying either, although I assume that some students prayed individually. I certainly understand the separation of church and state and the importance of religious freedom. However, I think if teams/players/coaches are in favor of praying, I don’t think outside groups or lawyers should be able to keep people from praying. It is a first amendment right and therefore protected in our constitution. So, I am proud of the students for taking a stand (or a knee). My guess is that students have opted out of team prayers for a variety of reasons over the years and my guess is those reasons have been respected by coaches.
Your Turn: What say you on this subject? Should coaches be allowed to lead teams in prayer?
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yeah but they should have to have some way of making sure the kids want to pray becasue you can’t force that on everyone.
I think that coaches should be allowed to lead their teams and students in prayer. If the students and teams are willing and want to, then why not, it is a good way to praise God and ask him for strength for the game. So my answer is yes, they should be allowed to lead prayer.
I agree with you
This team every game would pray before there game and I think that it is awesome that kids do that and when all the kids stated doing it the parents joined in. Most people would pray individual but as whole group, this is gratitude being thankful and not taking anything grantened
I think that it is okay for a coach to lead teams in a prayer so long as those who choose not to participate are allowed to go do their own thing if they do not support the prayer.
Yea for sure, my old football coach used to do it and that’s definitely something I miss before the big game. Freedom allows that being said it also allows someone to not be apart of it if they don’t choose to.
I definitely believe prayer should be allowed before games, if coaches and players want to do it absolutely let them do it. Some kids won’t want to pray and that’s perfectly okay, they shouldn’t be criticized for not praying, but if teams want to pray, they should certainly have the right to do it.
Prayers should be allowed before games but if some coaches or players don’t want to do it they don’t have to. There should be no judging and they should still play as a team
Prayers should be allowed before games but if some coaches or players don’t want to do it they don’t have to. There should be no judging and they should still play as a team
Prayers should be allowed but if people don’t want to do it they don’t have to. It should be a judge free place and they should still play as a team
Prayers should be allowed if you want to participate in the prayer that participate in it if you don’t then don’t.
Prayers should be allowed before games and the people who are offended by it should mind their own business. This is a Christian nation.
Sure if that’s how the team feels.
I think players should be allowed to pray. But you do not have to if you do not want to.
They help you learn god and you will be good not bad
The article is about if you should be allowed to pray before a game and a team in Tennessee has been praying before every game for a while and they put it to a vote on whether they should be allowed to continue to do so.
I think it should be a team decision. If we vote for prayer then we pray as a team. No and the team won’t pray. I think it takes a group to decide because their are always different opinions. If players want to opt out for religious purposes them fine.
I feel that students should be able to do harmless things that amuse them and doesn’t hurt anyone. I feel this way because at my school we are not very openminded to doing things freely. It is very important to have a moment where you feel free!
I think that coaches should be allowed to lead their teams and students in prayer. If the students and teams are willing and want to, then why not, it is a good way to praise God and ask him for strength for the game. So my answer is yes, they should be allowed to lead prayer.
I think praying should totally be allowed, and if you don’t want to participate then don’t.
I think everyone should be able to do what they feel is right. Some people may not be religious so they probably won’t want to pray, but for people who are religious they should be more than welcome to pray.
I think team prayer should definitely be an available choice. I say choice because everyone doesn’t believe in it so it’s not like it’s forced against the players.
i think that it should be an option but not everyone has to participate in the prayer. but everyone has to be respectful about what everyone chooses to do.
I think team prayer should definitely be an available choice, choice because everyone doesn’t believe in it so it’s not like it’s forced against the players.
If the whole team agrees to it then they for sure should but you can’t force it on everyone if they don’t want to do it.
I think team prayer should be an availability to all teams and players!!
I think it should be an availability to all teammates!! It should be a choice for everyone!!
I think it’s cool how they where not aloud to pry at games, but they they wanted to so they did and everyone Pryed together.
I don’t think that coaches should lead in prayer. Not everyone is religious
Student should have the choice of doing prayer with the whole team or not. If one or two players don’t want to join that’s fine. But the government shouldn’t be able to stop people from practicing their religion.
I definitely think prayer should be allowed. If you don’t want to participate that’s fine but you shouldn’t penalize other players and coaches for doing it.
I think if everyone agrees with prayer before games then it should be allowed.
I think coaches should be allowed to and they should say that you don’t have to prey along if you don’t want to
I think coaches should be allowed to and they should say that you don’t have to pray along if you don’t want to. It promotes good team sportsmanship
I think kids should be allowed to pray with others or by themselves if they want to. However I don’t want kids to feel forced into praying so just having that as an option is nice.
Yes if all agree or majority agreed in my opinion it would be OK to do it
yes i agree its ok to do it
in Church people have to pray with others for god, jesus can hear them
Yes I think they should prey because we have religious freedom because of the constitution and because the ten amendments say we as U.S.A citizens have religious freedom.
it is good because you can learn something different in the sports so you can be good at it.
it will be good because you can be good at things you are going to be learning so you can be good at things like sports and that is good because you can try something different at school.
everyone should be given a chance to play or to learn to play or try out to play or to get a chance to get to do something more pertucted
yea i agree my opinion is that its ok to do it
Yes I agree my opinion is you should always try new things out and try to work as a team and be there for your team.
wow this was interesting
Players should be allowed to but it should not be forced. If someone does not want to, they don’t have to but they also cannot judge others who do.
Yes I think prayer should be allowed however making sure everyone is comfortable and if they choose not to participate there is no harm done on them. It’s just a personal choice.
I think anyone should be able to pray before any sport because it is what they believe in, and they may not play the same if they dont pray.
I think the coaches should be allowed to lead prayer and if some of the athletes do not want to participate or have different beliefs then they can just tune it out or not participate.
Everyone should be able to pray
I say that having the teams pray before they play is a good idea and I feel like it is beneficial. Teams should be allowed to pray before their games because it is part of their religious freedoms and they should be allowed to pray before their games.
i think they should be able to pray and it goes back to preparation because you have to be ready for whatever happens
I think they should be able to pray because, it goes with their religion and they are preparing for their game.
these players show integrity because they have an honest opinion about god and pray before every game.
There resposubilty is to show up and work hard.
I think everyone has the right to pray and no one should have to be yelled at for praying before a football or basketball game.I think the coaches should be able to lead the team in prayers I dont think they should get in trouble for praying.