Abstract
Separation of church and state within the public school system has always been a "hot button" issue. The United States of America prides itself on being a melting pot of a plethora of different cultures and religions but when students want to practice their religion in public schools, are the schools prepared to cater to their students needs or even accept their request to practice in the first place? This session will discuss the controversy surrounding these issues and the implications that schools are portraying through these decisions.
Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, namely the phrase "one nation under God," in public schools is also a religious and political controversy that many Americans have a strong opinion towards. Should God be mentioned in a public school setting and what message is America sending towards students who are asked to recite the Pledge who are not Christian?
