Religion Issues In Public School Essay

Religion Issues in Public School Essay
The parents have the primary responsibility for the upbringing their children, including education. Consequently, parents need to be knowledgeable
about the rules and practices school, including all matters relating to the religion and religious freedom in public education. In each community, parents
should work with school officials to achieve not only what is constitutional, but also what is right for all citizens (Essex, 2012).The principles of
freedom of religious are provided in the First Amendment where the civic structure that allows discussing differences, understand the relationship
between parents and school policies and forge serve the common good in public education (Lecture 2, 2014). The following issues or inquiries are
...show more content...
It is important that a mutual trust is created and to really and listen to each other. School officials must accept criticism to their standards and valid
school practices, especially in regards to management of religion and religious perspectives. At the same time, parents with deep religious convictions
should recognize that vast majority of administrators and teachers in public schools are not intended to be hostile religion and want to be fair to
parents and students (Essex, 2012). Many school districts contribute to the confusion and mistrust because policies concerning many of the issues are
treated or are set as guide. Schools can demonstrate how important it is to take religious freedom seriously when working with parents to develop
comprehensive standards.
Religious Liberty and Public Schools
The general agreement between schools and religious communities on how to treat religion in public schools under the First Amendment: Public
schools may not inculcate or inhibit religion (Essex, 2012). . They must be places where religion and belief religious are treated with fairness and
respect. Public schools protect the First Amendment when they protect the rights of religious freedom all students, believers or not. Schools
demonstrate fairness when ensure that the curriculum includes religious studies, where appropriate, as a component important for education complete
(Essex, 2012).
According to the Texas Freedom Network (2014) in the
Get more content on HelpWriting.net

Religion In Schools
Religion is often not talked about in public schools and if you aren't religious then you might not know what religion is or what it means to be
religious. There are many reasons why religion isn't taught within the public school system today. There are risks and sometimes dangers that come
along with religion, especially in a country filled with a variety of cultures, races and customs. The first amendment of the United States constitution
tries to get rid of the dispute about the establishment of religion, prohibiting the promotion of any religious doctrine within any government agency
which includes the public school systems. The NH State Law lets students express and practice their religious ways by allowing students to have 5
minutes...show more content...
For an example, in today's society, people assume that all followers of the Islamic faith are bad because of the past. Since their religion and culture
is tied with them, any other person that is similar is thought of to be the same. Although America is said to be a place that supports the importance
of equality, we are all separated and divided into the things that make us who we are. When it comes to religion and the public school system,
research has found that there are 270 major religion groups but many more religious groups within those religions. Understandably, this would
make it very difficult to decide which religion(s) would be taught within schools and choosing one over the other could create a huge conflict.
Senator Phillip A. Hart from Michigan) states "I'm a Catholic and I hope a devout one, but I think that the public school classroom is no place for
me to try and impose my world formula for prayer on children who don't share it, and for that very reason, I don't want my children in a public
school classroom to be exposed to someone else's religion or formula." For an example, let's say the teacher is teaching the class about how God
created Heaven and Earth and Jesus's crucifixion. If there are students in that class that have different beliefs then it wouldn't fair to them that they have
to "learn" about something they don't believe in. This is where the fine line is drawn between church and

Religion in Schools Today
The American Religious Experience
In America today we all have choices to make in regards to our religious beliefs. Many young children are brought up today confused about religion
and the significance it plays in their lives. There are many sanctions and rules now on what can and can 't be thought or displayed to people on public
property, but it wasn 't always like this. In this paper I will be discussing the American religious experience in regards to the impactreligion has in the
public schools. since 1776 the United States has grown from a nation of relatively few religious differences to one of countless religious groups. This
expanding pluralism challenges the public schools to deal creatively and sensitively with students...show more content...
Teachers will want to avoid asking students to explain their beliefs and customs. An offer to do so should be treated with courtesy and accepted or
rejected depending on the educational relevancy. Teachers may not use the study of religious holidays as an opportunity to proselytize or to inject
personal religious beliefs into the discussion. Teachers should avoid this by teaching through attribution, i.e. by reporting that "some Buddhists believe
..."
May religious symbols be used in public school classes?
The use of religious symbols, provided they are used only as examples of cultural or religious heritage, is permissible as a teaching aid or resource.
Religious symbols may be displayed only on a temporary basis as part of the academic program. Students may choose to create artwork with religious
symbols, but teachers should not assign or suggest such creations.
May religious music be used in public schools?
Sacred music may be sung or played as part of the academic study of music. School concerts that present a variety of selections may include religious
music. Concerts should avoid programs dominated by religious music, especially when these coincide with a particular religious holiday. The use of
art, drama, or literature with religious themes also is permissible if it serves a sound educational goal in the curriculum, but not if used as a vehicle for
promoting religious belief.
What about Christmas?
Decisions about what to do in December should

Should Religion Be Taught In Schools Essay
Students could benefit from a religious focused course in high school. Despite religion in schools being highly controversial, public schools should be
allowed to teach religion in school. Specifically this could negate religiously motivated hate crimes, help the student body become more familiar to
religion as it is becoming more diverse, religious literacy is key to a well–rounded education, and students have a first amendment right to religious
expression in school. All religions should be encompassed equally. Religion is school is not to be "rally" or a "life altering moment", but a way of
understanding cultures around the world and between one's neighbors.
Religion is mentioned in school, but is brushed over do to fear of "hitting a sore topic" or offending other religions. The main issue is not discussing all
religions equally and independently from other studies. First,...show more content...
According to the U.S. Department of Justice's "Hate Crime Victimization" report, the percentage of hate crimes that were motivated by religious bias
was nearly three times higher in 2012 (28%) than in 2004 (10%)" (School Reform, 2015). Those are only a couple examples or hate gone too far.
These were tragic accidents that derived from preconceived notations about people that could have been avoided and saved lives. Religiously
motivated hate crimes are on the rise. High school and even middle school students should strive to reduce the ignorance of young adults to young
teenagers. With religion as a class students can become aware and have a safe open environment in which they can become more familiar with other
walks of life. Hate crimes are becoming all too easy for people as if they do not even see other ways of life, in particular

Should Religion Be Taught At School?
Should Comparative Religion Be Taught In School Many people have thought that religion is one of the most important aspects of our lives and that
it is a structure for how we must carry ourselves. Some believe that a life without faith or religion is no life worth living at all because that is what
allows them to give meaning or purpose to life. Many would agree that there are great stories about morals and traditions that each provides and we
could learn a great amount of wisdom and understanding from them. As a result of this they also believe that it should be taught alongside our
everyday classroom lessons such as math, reading, and writing. In fact, the Catholic Church had such a strong presence in Cincinnati during the 1800s
This could result in taking more time to learn about religions throughout history rather than the history itself. Next, because of the variety, there are
some that contradict each other and could result in confusion amongst students. This could also cause some that are less open–minded to become
infuriated thinking that one topic is meant to denounce their own religion. Confusion or anger in itself could lead to another problem and that is the
tension that could be caused between students of different backgrounds. We already have problems with bullying, someone of a lesser known
following, that is already bullied could have an even harder time dealing with such issues. However the disagreement even goes beyond day to day
classroom activity. Most religion teaches creationism which is argued to have no hard evidence so it could only be taught as theory or myth rather than
fact. In some cases those that have lead institutions have demoted critical thinking and reasoning through teaching religions with an iron fist. Some
would also argue that critical thinking is what allows our understanding of the world. In other words, critical thinking opens up the doorway to
everything we can learn and progress at. Many believe that most forms of religion have oppressed critical thinking so it contradicts the learning
process. Although mankind

Should Religions Be Taught In Schools
Another reason why a variety of religions should be taught in schools is because it educates students so they can have a right to choose their religion.
Many people tend to stick to their family religion because they are not educated about other religions and so they do not have the same flexibility as
others when it comes to choosing a religion for themselves. If schools teach students a variety of religions, students will have an understanding of a
wider range of religions and by having this knowledge, they are able to choose what type of faith they would like to believe in. Instead of teaching
only one religion, a whole range of religions should be taught, in order for people to select a religion that they truly believe in. A fair amount

Religion In Public School Case Summary
The main decision to be made in this case is the separation of the church and the state and how the religion studies program is related to the curriculum.
The additional information to inform a decision is the constitutional law and the First Amendment: Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause.
Under the First Amendment, public schools must be neutral concerning religion in all of their activities. School officials must take the necessary steps
to ensure that any cooperative activities that take place are wholly secular.
U.S. Supreme Court indicated that public school education may include teaching about religion. However, in this case the teaching of religion in public
school is only with the intention of learning the history of

Religion In Schools: Article Analysis
This article offers information about the religion in schools debate in the past and various rulings supporting or dissenting religious practices in
schools, rather than presenting an argument. The author states that the majority of debates over religion in schools stems from the establishment or
religion clause of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, which calls for separation of church and state, and the challenge schools face
in order to balance separation and religious freedoms. The article then gives a brief rundown of the history of various United States Supreme Court
rulings dealing with related issues, as the Court has protected students' individual rights to pray, wear religious dress and express their beliefs on

Religion In Public Schools Research Paper
In a country founded on religious freedom. The debate of having religion in our public school system has been the source of and enormous conflict.
This question dates back further than the 19th century but its still foundation of many heated discussions that presently takes place in this day and age.
The vast majority oppose to the thought of religion being present in our public school system. Relying on "The First Amendment" of the US
Constitution. Which states "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof". This
amendment also established "The Separation of Church and State" which is the political and legal doctrine that establishes that religious and government
institutions

Religion and public schooling, is one of today's most controversial issues in society. The question at hand is whether the teachers in the public schools
should teach religion in America's school systems or not. This controversy has been the issue of many Supreme Court rulings within the past
thirty–five years. Separation of church and state seems inevitable for this nation. Problems keep arising and court rulings are handed down nearly
every day. The issue at hand has never been taken care of directly at the source. Why has religion in schools never been taken care of, and what will
happen if it is allowed to remain a conflict? How much longer will this great controversy last? One day, this controversial issue will turn into a reason
why humanity is so blinded to the meaning of religion. Maybe there will be a time when answers to this dilemma are finally found. And if no answers
are found, what is going to be done next? No action would literally destroy thirty–five years worth of court cases and basically drain the pool of all
water, allowing the fish to drown. This scenario fits the American people. If religion is lost, what will the people use as the context of the freedom
that America's forefathers fought so hard to preserve? Those "Drained" cases should be used for future reference in case other controversial cases occur.
In 1962, Madalyn Murray helped her son, William J. Murray III (at the time, age fourteen) journey down a long and hard–fought road toward his

Religion In Public Schools
Based on the religious scenario given in class, the principal is a mid–year hire in a high school situated in what appears to be a predominantly
Christian, conservative community. Several facts have come to light regarding equal access and religious activities and actions occurring in the
school. First the principal observed the English teacher, Mr. Wrighteous, prominently displaying the Bible on his desk. The teacher also incorporated
and promoted religious teachings in a class lesson. He offered a Bible as a reward for good work. This same teacher leads a weekly Bible study and
prayer group at school. Another issue has been brought to the principal's attention, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has inquired about
other religious...show more content...
The Equal Access Act of 1984 agreed that public secondary schools may allow non–curricular clubs to meet during non–instructional time during the
school day. The courts stipulated that the meeting is voluntary and student led, school employees do not sponsor nor participate in the gathering but
are in attendance only in a supervisory role. In light of the current situation, Mr. Wrighteous will be advised to have the students lead the morning
prayer group. If this is not feasible, then he will need to find another school employee to act as the supervisor for the club. The Equal Access Act also
supports allowing the LGBT group to form. The student will need to submit the appropriate paperwork to the Board of Education for approval. In White
County High School P.R.I.D.E. vs. White County School District the court ruled in favor of the students to form the LGBT club despite the Board of
Education's refusal of the

Does Religion belong in Public Schools? Essay
When looking at the history of America, it is fascinating to see how the public schooling system even got started. The first schools in America were
not public schools, as many would presume. Instead, "the first schools in the United States were religious and not secular" (Elifson 1). Nearly all
public schools, up to the 1960's incorporated religion and prayer in their classrooms; however, in the last 50 years, prayer and religion in public
schools has been debated over countless times. Even in Hudsonville, Michigan, which holds the record in the Guinness Book of World Records for
having the most churches on a single street, there is much debate over prayer and the teaching of Christianity, or any religion, in the public schools.
When I...show more content...
They also state that in other countries, "entire social systems are based on religious beliefs" (2). Consequently, this points to the fact that religion, in its
entirety, is immensely important in teaching students the history of nations and many social systems that nations uphold. Reid and Ayers have proven
that after receiving the knowledge of religion in some countries and understanding why their respective religions were important to them, "[students]
achieved a deeper understanding of many current events, [especially] those involving the Middle East"(Ayers and Reid 2). It is perfectly clear that in
many circumstances, knowing the religious background of a nation will help enlighten the students to better understand why some nations hold a
particular stance on a given matter (Ayers and Reid 1–3).
Another author, Rob Boston, talks about this subject in less detail. He argues that "legitimate instruction about religion as an academic subject in
public schools [is not] a problem. As long as it's done in a non–dogmatic manner intended to educate" (3). Boston's whole article is arguing against the
idea of preaching to students about religion. It is interesting that even someone against religion in school wants a broad teaching of religious
backgrounds to better understand culture in some events, especially in history. This further proves the

Religion In Public Schools Essay
The subject of religion in public schools is one that has been debated vigorously and passionately. The warriors from the Right and Left fail to
appreciate the facts because they are caught up in the rhetoric and have difficulty viewing this emotional topic dispassionately (Haynes, 2011). Both
sides are right about one thing: this is an important subject.
The debate on religion in the public school is complicated by the fact that there are two clauses dealing with religion in the First Amendment (Warnick,
2012). The Establishment Clause, which disallows the establishment by the government of any particular religion, and the Free Exercise Clause, which
prohibits the state from proscribing the practice of religion, are a source of...show more content...
These uncertain areas include (a) whether schools endorsing religious views if they allow student–initiated activities to involve school resources and
audiences, (b) the lengths to which schools can and should go to in accommodating religious beliefs and practices, and (c) how schools can make
certain that accommodations do not become endorsements nor imply such (Warnick, 2012).
In addition to the areas of ambiguity, there is the problem of religious ignorance (Giess, 2012; Haynes, 2011). There is a marked and dramatic
ignorance among Americans about religious traditions including their own (Giess, 2012). Ignorance is no virtue and especially so when the
opportunity to harm one's students through intolerance and ignorance is more prevalent than ever before. The US, the predominance of the Christian
religion notwithstanding, is becoming more and more diverse religiously (Gunther & Purinton, 2011). This type of ignorance is a contributor to the
escalation of religious intolerance that has manifested itself in increasing numbers of hate crimes (Haynes, 2011).
Educators need to understand the impact of religion on the lives of their students. According to Gallup poll data, nearly 95% of teens believe in God
and 86% believe that Jesus Christ is either God or the Son of God (Gallup & Lindsay, 1999 as cited in Ream, 2003). These and other similar statistics
demonstrate the importance of considering religion when dealing with young people. Ream

Religion in Public Schools Essay
Religious Rights in Public Schools
"JESUS in the classroom!" Are you feeling uncomfortable yet? Religion in the public school systems is among the top of the list of controversial topics
in American society, We've long been advised to avoid this and other religiously politically intertwined subjects in polite conversation. If you're like
most Americans, this topic makes you frustrated, high strung, or at least a little queasy. From the day the 1st amendment right appeared in the U.S.
Constitution, to this present day, and surely into our nation's tomorrows, the proper role of religion in public schools has been, is, and will continue to
be a subject of great debate. It is important for school officials, parents, and students...show more content...
The second is known as the Free Exercise Clause, which prohibits congress from removing the right of the people to freely exercise any religion, or
none at all.
Although these two clauses of the 1st amendment right seem simple to understand and clear and direct in it's meanings, there is no doubt that "the 1st
amendment needs breathing space and room for interpretation, and statutes attempting to restrict or burden the exercise of First Amendment rights
must be narrowly drawn (Herndon v. Lowry, 1937)." For example, even the most stringent protection of religious rights would not protect a teacher
from sacrificing her students in the name of religion. Every case, whether it be as ridiculous as the one above or a situation that would be much more
relevant to every day life is confronted with a question, "was the religious expression used in such circumstances or are they of a nature that creates a
clear and present danger?" Congress has a right to prevent those instances that will bring about substantive evils. In the end the question is one of
proximity and degree (Holmes, 1999).
Since this amendment first appeared in December of 1791, there have been hundreds of court cases, ruling on the religious rights of students, teachers
and other officials in public schools. These court cases with their extraordinary impact, have paved the way to the educational system we have today.
Though schools were originally founded for the purpose of inculcating

Definition: Religion in school is the practice of any personal religious beliefs in a place of education.
Introduction: In recent years teaching or the individual practice of religion in school has become a very controversial topic. There are many different
views on this matter and even more opinions on how it should be handled. There are people on both sides of the spectrum, there are those who believe
that it should be taught and allowed in school, and there are those who believe it should not be taught or practiced in school. There have been cases
brought to court about how religion should be taken out of schools, or if it should be allowed. This essay will explore both sides of the spectrum.
Thesis: Religion in public...show more content...
They were even physically abused for not believing as the other children did. This indicates how dangerous and unethical having religious practices in
schools can be. The only time that prayer or any religious activity should be allowed in a school is if the school is a privately funded school. No
government funded school should teach religion due to the separation of church and state. Funding comes from all tax payers regardless of their
religious beliefs. The reason prayer is not permitted in the classroom is because it violates the separation of church and state as defined by the first
amendment.
Support Argument 2: If we were to allow prayer in the classroom our constitutional rights as defined by the first amendment, separating church and
state would be violated. This would contradict what we've built our country on. It would take us a step back from being a free country. At that point we
would be under a totally different political system and everything past generations have fought for would be for nothing. Allowing the separation of
church and state to parish would place our country in the same turmoil that Mid–eastern countries are experiencing. It would impose the same kind of
separation of people that apartheid has imposed in Africa, based on beliefs instead of their skin color. There may not be the same actions taken such
as in slavery but there would be a great amount of persecution as is being

Religion in Public Schools
Are you religious? Do you have children? What kind of environment would you like your child in while he/she is in school? A century ago, most of
America's public schools were religious schools. Over time the state has redesigned schools in order to make schools for all children and not alienate
any students. The Supreme Court then accelerated the movement in 1962 when it declared that prayer in public schools was unconstitutional. Then one
year later the court removed all bible reading from public school because it is a religious exercise(–––––––). There is no clear line between what
instructors are aloud to teach in school and what they are not aloud to teach, so many laws have been written and changed. In...show more content...
"Public schools have really become a place of neutral ground," says senator Tom Daschle(–––––––––––). Daschle also stated that although he learned
his values as an alter boy at Sacred Heart School, he believes in separation of church and state, because children may take part in something out of the
mainstream. "I don't think I want my children to say a prayer written by Sun Myang Moon," Daschle said, referring to the religious leader who was
recently convicted of tax evasion and declared himself the messiah. House representative John Thune believes differently, saying every school district
should be allowed to decide whether to let students take part in voluntary prayer and other religious activities. Thune objected to Daschle's statement
saying that school districts would never allow prayers by Moon or others outside the mainstream.
Among the issues of religion in schools, prayer is the largest debated. Many believe crime and teen pregnancy will drop if prayer and bible reading
is put back into the public school system. Saying these are solutions to a range of teen problems and one of the only ways to teach values and
ethics(1–––––––). "The biggest mistake our country has ever made was on June 25th, 1962 when the Supreme Court forebode 39 million students
from praying as their fathers and the fathers of their fathers did before them," said D.L. Moody at a

Should Religion Be Taught In Schools Essay
The question of whether religion should be present in schools is more of a matter of what the United States founding principles. Some say that the
Founding Fathers intended for each of us to escape the religious persecution so that all groups could be independent and prosper individually.
However, others believe that each person has rights to their own observance of religion, so taking away aspects in school would be unconstitutional.
With the current model, finding a balance without offending any student is nearly impossible. The matter of facing religion in schools is an issue that
has become more and more relevant to communities, but is being put on the back burner time and time again. Observance of religion should be
allowed in public schools and classes should look at a more holistic view of human nature.
In the first amendment of the United States, it states that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof...," a right granted to all citizens. According to the Constitution, the governing document of the United States, all people governed by
the United States are allowed to practice and observe religion as they see fit, and anyone who infringes on these rights is breaking the law. Therefore, it
is unconstitutional to prevent...show more content...
In current public school systems, educators are allowed to teach Evolution, however, this is an opinion being forced upon a student. In many science
classes, such as Biology, students are taught how the body works and "evolves." However, a double standard exists–if a teacher taught Creationism,
the School Board would not allow the practice to continue. Although this is seems to be a one–sided issue, a change seems fit in regards to what is
imparted in the

The Importance Of Religion In Schools
While schools must accept religion by law, they must also ignore that it is even there. Schools must accept all students' beliefs whether the agree with
it or not. On the other hand, schools cannot favor a certain religion, so they must disregard all religions at the same time. This is where it is difficult to
have a balance of accepting and pushing it away. Administration, teachers, and staff all have daily challenges when it comes toreligion. Even though
school staff has their opinions, they must keep it to themselves and be neutral while in the workplace.
There are three categories where conflicts between religion and schools happen. The first conflicts, are inside acts. Inside acts happen within the
school or on school grounds. These acts are normally based on either the student or the teacher's actions or behavior. Conflicts begin with religious
clubs, clothing, symbols, and faith based literature. Religious clubs are allowed, but cannot try to convert other students and force them to join.
Students may also wear the clothes they choose as long as it is not offensive to the religion, or inappropriate for the school dress code.
The second category, is outsider access. Outside organizations attempt to spread religious messages in schools. Some of these organizations also try to
use schools as places to worship. Schools do not want these organizations influencing their schools. Some schools though, do allow organizations like
these to have events and worship in their

Why Religion Should Be Taught In Schools
Fear is a natural emotion instilled in every capable human being. Fear is often caused by lack of knowledge. Religion has caused fear in many
people's lives, due to the fact of not knowing and fearing things that are different than one's own belief. The diversity in today's society calls for a
great need to educate children on the different religious beliefs of others. Seeking knowledge about religions helps further education as well as social
skills. This knowledge could also cause a troubled child to change for the better and improve academically as well as socially. Another great benefit of
putting religion as a school curriculum would be that there are great career opportunities when one has a degree majoring in religion and or theology.
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is defined as "one of the most common childhood disorders and can continue through adolescence and
adulthood. Symptoms include difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior, and hyperactivity" ( Attention Deficit
Hyperactivity Disorder).Children diagnosed with ADD may be given less attention in the classroom than other student that do not have this
disorder. This could cause the children to fall behind in their educational courses and begin to give up hope for their future. Learning about
religions could give this child hope and help them pursue their goals. In many religions "the promise" is if one lives their life in a "godly way"
then they will live in a place called Heaven, which is depicted to be a utopia. Placing religion as a required subject in school may take the veil from
over many children's eyes. For instance with the troubled child mentioned previously they may have given hope for their future. With this religion
class he could discover a religion that gives him hope and inspires him to do better so he will be able to obtain that promise in the

Religion Issues In Public School Essay

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

More from Paper Writing Service Cheap DePauw University

More from Paper Writing Service Cheap DePauw University (8)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Religion Issues In Public School Essay