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� � , ' . _ .1! .� � ' t.:: ! � �.: 1l., � .�' , '- The first ten amer�drr�e��s to theLlnited statesC�nstitut�on g�a��tees the Ame�c� p�opte certain rights. ACCOrditzg to the First A,t°ri�;ttc�nen� of the Bill €� ��ights, "Con�ress sh�11 m�ce no law respecting an establi��ent of religion, or pro$�ibiting ih� fr�s exercise t�ae��of, or abrzc��in� fhe freedom of speech, or the press; or the right of t$te p�:opie peac��bly to assemble, an�. �� petition the government for a t�d��ess of �iev�r�ces." I� this essay I will t'�l�t� how €�i��n� i�a�crpretatior�s of the First Amendment's guarantee of freedom of religion have ��ed rega.rdiza� the issue of prayer in public schools. There seem to be two diffirent views as to the interpretation of freedom of religion. Qr�e is held by those who want strict separation of ehttrch and state such as the American �ivi1 Liberties Union, ACLU, or Americans United for Separation of Church and State. They believe prayer should not take place in any �`€��n in scht�ol. They say praying is forcing the students to accept a certain religion, which is an inir�r�gerne�t �f the First Amendmel�� of the �3i11 �f I2ig�ts .��1� gi�� becomes state sponsored by the school. A second interpretation, held by those such as the Liberiy Council, is that the Supreme Court's ��erpr�t��r� €�f �� First Amendment has not prohibited �11 prayer, but that certa,i�€ cireiz�sta�ac�s must be looked at. They say not �e�itting students to pray is against the First Amendment since iT is preventing students from the liberiy to share their faith. Private prayer is private speech which does nut violate separation of church and state. There are �� areas �� c��rsy in school prayer. One is prayer �� ;$��j-j�� events, s�� as football games. a second is prayer at graduation ceremonies, and a third is p�'�ye� �n g�� school day For example, ��p �Z��i� 1992, prayer had ��v�ys been sai� at graduation. In 1992 ��e Supreme :;t�tte� �-�lec� that a school �� First ��n�nc�e�i Establishment Clause when it invited a clergy f�� tE�� s�I� �J�t��S� qs� prayer and ga�e clergy guidelines �r� how to say payer. This does