The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week in a case involving prayer and public schools, extending a long debate on the topic. Joseph Kennedy, a former football coach at a public high school in Washington state, would for years pray on the 50-yard line after football games, joined by some of his players. Eventually, the school district asked him to stop, and Kennedy was put on leave after he refused.

A 2019 Pew Research Center survey explored teenagers’ opinions and experiences with religion in public school, finding that about four-in-ten U.S. teens ages 13-17 in public schools (39%) say they often or sometimes see other students in their school praying before a sporting event. Teenagers in the South are especially likely to report seeing this (56%).

The survey question did not ask about the involvement of teachers or coaches in prayer at school sporting events. Although a relatively small share of public school teens (8%) say they have ever seen a teacher lead a class in prayer, roughly four-in-ten (41%) – including 68% of evangelical Protestants – say they think it would be “appropriate” for a teacher to do so.