Jager v. Douglas 9-4-14 7th The Jager v. Douglas case started when the Douglas County schools wanted to pray before the football games, but one young boy named Doug Jager refused to participate in these prayers due to his families’ religious beliefs (OpenJurist). This ended a tradition of Douglas County schools that had lasted forty-one years, and this led to Doug being harassed and even threatened by peers and people around school (Freedom from Religion Foundation). The problem was that in these prayers when they ended, it would end along the lines of “Jesus, in your name we pray” and so on expressing Christianity. Doug Jager felt this …show more content…
In late August of 1986, the Reverends talked it over and decided that invocations and prayers before events such as football games or any other athletic events must in fact be voluntarily. By voluntarily it means that no person can be appointed by the school staff or officials. Only clubs, parents or students can give an invocation (OpenJurist). In the 1st amendment where is states that all Americans have freedom of religion to support any religion they decide. After being evaluated they said it could be taken separate ways and that it is alright for players or students to start prayer at an event as long as coaches and school officials are not involved or showing any favoritism towards a religion. This is because school officials may not suggest or tell students to pray and are not allowed to set aside a certain period of time at a sporting event to pray in religious ways. They can only be involved if the pray or invocation is wishing health, safety, success or fair play to everybody in the competition/game (Prayers at sports