A quarter of US teenagers who identify with a religion and attend public school say they pray regularly before eating lunch at school, according to the results of a Pew Research Center survey.
But the survey of 1,811 US adolescents aged 13 to 17 found that the figure rose to 39 per cent among evangelical Protestants, well above the 18 per cent of Catholic and 11 per cent of mainline Protestant teenagers who did so.
The survey also found that about one in six – or 16 per cent – of teenagers in public schools said they often or sometimes saw other students praying before lunch but were more likely to see such activity before sporting events (39 per cent reported seeing students praying in this situation).
About eight per cent of students reported they had seen a teacher lead their class in prayer, a practice which has been banned at public schools under a US Supreme Court ruling but which is permitted at religious private schools.
Despite 82 per cent of teenagers indicating they know that it is “unconstitutional” for public school teachers to lead classes in prayer, 41 per cent said it would be “appropriate” for a teacher to do so including 68 per cent of evangelical Protestant and four in 10 Catholic teens.
Other findings showed that 31 per cent of religiously affliated teens often or sometimes wore clothing or jewellery with religious symbols on it in school, 24 per cent often or sometimes invited fellow students to religious youth groups or worship services and 10 per cent often or sometimes left school for religious activities.
The survey was conducted online between 29th March and 14th April.
