?si=YE8-QgXLn9KJ0gzv

Looking at the protests nationwide I recalled this as an evolving issue over many years..but it was nothing like the violent and unruly protests today.

AI generated query:

My question: Was prayer outlawed or under attack in the 70's?

Prayer in public schools was a **highly debated issue** in the 1970s, but the legal foundation for restricting school-sponsored prayer had already been set in the **1962-63 Supreme Court decisions**. These rulings banned **organized prayer and Bible readings** in public schools, citing the **Establishment Clause** of the First Amendment, which prohibits government endorsement of religion.

While students were still **allowed to pray privately**, public schools could not **lead or mandate** prayer. The controversy continued throughout the 1970s, with **attempts to introduce constitutional amendments** that would permit voluntary prayer in schools, but none were successful. The debate was fueled by **public opinion polls**, which showed **strong support** for school prayer among certain demographics.

https://www.clrn.org/when-did-they-take-prayer-out-of-school/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_prayer_in_the_United_States

https://www.jstor.org/stable/2748643


Copilot:
Would you like to explore how this issue evolved in later decades?
The debate over school prayer continued to evolve through the **1980s, 1990s, and 2000s**, with legal challenges and cultural shifts shaping the conversation.

- **1980s:** The Supreme Court reinforced its stance against school-sponsored prayer, ruling against religious invocations at graduation ceremonies. However, **student-led prayer** became a focal point, with some arguing that banning it infringed on free speech rights.

- **1990s:** The decade saw the rise of **"See You at the Pole,"** a nationwide student-led prayer movement where students gathered at school flagpoles to pray. This was framed as **free expression** rather than school endorsement, allowing it to persist despite legal restrictions.

- **2000s:** The Supreme Court ruled against **student-led prayers at football games**, arguing that even voluntary prayers at school events could be seen as **government endorsement of religion**. However, debates continued, especially regarding **prayer by teachers and coaches** outside official school hours.

A lot of debate tactics, however, have defiantly changed.