In recent years, the teaching of religion, or the individual practice of religion in school, has become a very controversial subject. There are many different views on this issue and even more opinions on how it should be handled. There are people on both sides of the spectrum; There are those who believe it should be taught and allowed in school, and those who believe it should not be taught or practiced in school. If practicing religion were an option in public schools, students might become more tolerant and knowledgeable about religions and cultures other than their own. Second, an interval of time during the day can be provided in the school timetable to allow the student's personal beliefs to be put into practice. Finally, since prayer was eliminated from public school systems, the nation has experienced a decline in education and an increase in crime rates. Although today's public schools do not practice school prayer, most schools have replaced prayer with a "quiet moment of reflection." Prayer should be established in schools because it generates exposure to other cultures, allows a quiet period for students, and creates well-rounded individuals in society. Knowing the beliefs and practices of the people who share this world is vital for the future. In the United States, where people of many nations, faiths, and ethnicities live together, the citizen's responsibility is to know each other to create a positive atmosphere. People embrace civics education as a way to strengthen the practice of fairness and religious freedom protected by the United States Constitution, but these principles are meaningless if the people of this country do not know each other. Learning about people's history, cultures and belief systems...... middle of paper ...... different cultures (other than Christianity) to practice their own beliefs, opens the mind of the young generation to understanding other cultural practices. This recognition, along with the knowledge of introducing a diverse culture into schools, will benefit generations to come. Works CitedDouglass, Susan L. The World in the Clasroonm. “Teaching Religion.” Educational Leadership Vol. 60 (2002): 32-36. Internet. April 10, 2014. Prayer at school affects the whole of society. “Creation today” January 1, 2014. Web. April 9, 2014. .Religion at school. "Education Week", August 4, 2004. Web. April 4, 2014..Smith, Hallie. MA CCC-SLP. The Benefits of Downtime: Why Learner Brains Need a Break. “Scientific learning”. December 13, 2013. the web. April 12 2014.