67 Percent Say Let Kids Lead Prayers After School

Analysis By Dalia Sussman, ABCNews.com

March 28 Public support for school prayer extends beyond the classroom: Most Americans also say students should be able to lead prayers at after-school activities, such as sporting events.

The question comes before the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday, when it hears arguments in a case filed by two families against a Texas school district that allowed students to lead prayers over the public address system at football games. The plaintiffs say that violates the separation of church and state.

Two-thirds of Americans take the school districts side. Sixty-seven percent say students should be permitted to use the PA system to lead the audience in prayer at public school activities, such as sporting events. Fewer than three in 10 oppose it.

That result is in line with polls on other aspects of school prayer. Last summer, for instance, Gallup found 70 percent support for "daily prayer to be spoken in the classroom."

The high court is expected to rule by late June in the case. Its the first major school-prayer case to be heard by the Supreme Court since it ruled in 1992 that clergy-led prayers at graduation ceremonies are unconstitutional.

Campaign Issue

Presidential candidates Al Gore and George W. Bush are at odds on the issue. Bush has backed his states school district in support of student-led prayer. Gore opposes student-led prayer, but supports what he terms voluntary prayer, such as a moment of silence for students to pray as they wish.

While theres a gap between Republicans and others in the poll, majorities in all political groups support student-led prayer eight in 10 Republicans, compared to about six in 10 Democrats and independents.

Other Groups

There are some other differences among groups. Lower-income and less-educated Americans are more apt to support student-led school prayer, so are Southerners and Midwesterners. Again, though, its supported by majorities in all groups.

Methodology

This ABCNEWS.com survey was conducted by telephone March 22-26, 2000, among a random national sample of 1,011 adults. The results have a three-point error margin. Field work by ICR-International Communications Research of Media, Pa.