The results of an AP-NORC poll, released Thursday, found that many adults of various religious backgrounds are in favor of introducing religious practices into public schools.
The poll consisted of 1,158 adults taken from a sample that the AP-NORC drew from a panel “designed to be representative of the U.S. population.” The people polled were white evangelical Christians, white mainline Protestants, non-white Protestants, Catholics, and those with no religious affiliation.
Perhaps the most overwhelming statistic in the poll was that 58% of adults think public schools should have religious chaplains providing support services for students. The lowest percentage (41%) came from those with no religious affiliation. However, this 41% was one of the largest percentages for the non-religiously affiliated in any category promoting religion in public schools.
However, in other categories, those polled were mostly disapproving of teachers leading classes in prayer, having a mandatory prayer or religious study time. Those who prefer more classroom religious activity and instruction tend to be evangelical Christians and non-white protestants, while Catholics, white mainline Protestants, and those who identify as non-religious typically lean in favor of no school-conducted religious activity during class.
Sally Hacker, a non-denominational Christian who was polled, commented on the benefits of chaplains for students in public schools.
“If they have problems, these students could go and talk to these preachers and these chaplains, and maybe they could help them figure out a way to get out of those problems,” she noted.
In 2023, Texas became the first state to allow chaplains into public schools at their discretion. This practice was followed by other states. This year, Arkansas and Texas both passed laws requiring public school classrooms to conspicuously display the Ten Commandments.
Another notable statistic found that 57% of the adults polled believe the federal government has too much influence on public schools.
