A newly released survey from the Pew Research Center offers a detailed look at how Americans feel about prayer in public schools — and the results show broad, but nuanced, support.
According to the poll, 78% of American adults believe public schools should permit students to pray voluntarily in student-led groups. Support is somewhat lower when it comes to authority figures leading the prayers: 57% of respondents said coaches should be allowed to lead their teams in prayer, while 46% said teachers should be permitted to lead their classes in prayer.
Despite that support, those who favor coaches and teachers leading prayer largely draw the line at forcing anyone to take part. A strong majority of that group said no student should ever be required to participate in school prayer.
The survey reflects the ongoing national conversation about the role of religion in public education and where Americans believe the boundaries should be drawn.
