In the article ‘Religion in Schools Debate Heats Up’, it addressed a lawsuit that was filed between an atheist parent against a suburban Chicago public school. The parent was riled up over the fact that his daughter had to participate in having a moment of silence in prayer or personal reflection every morning of each school day. The judge ruled against the state law requiring public school students to observe the moment of silence. Defenders of the law argued that the law does not force students to participate in anything religious, but that it is the student’s personal choice to indulge in those sorts of activities. In another article entitled “Joint Statement of Current Law on Religion in the Public Schools” it offers a breakdown of what religious concepts or practices (if any) are permissible in the schools and what are prohibited. It gives a thorough outline of what teachers and administrators should do in various situations related to religion, what procedures they need to follow, how they should tackle certain subject matters and how to conduct appropriate religious debates. This is a helpful guide for everyone including parents, since it offers a better understanding of everyone’s roles and rights pertaining to religion. Students and teachers are now more aware of what they can do and can’t do and what they are required to do.
When I was in elementary school we had to recite the Pledge of Allegiance every morning before classes started. Although this was not a prayer, praise was being given to a flag and God was being acknowledged in the pledge, this is something that could have gone against my religion. For example, Jehovah Witnesses do not believe in worshipping a flag, so if I was a part of this organization this would have gone against what I believe and was raised not to do. This brings me to the topic of religious holidays being promoted and practiced in schools such as Christmas. Students that are Jehovah Witnesses once again cannot participate because this is not a part of their beliefs. A policy for religious holidays is included in the ‘The Joint Statement of Current Law on Religion in the Public Schools’. It states that public schools are allowed to teach about religious holidays, and they may celebrate the secular aspects of the holiday, however they may not observe the holiday as religious events. Students are allowed to be excused from participating in all activities that are associated with the holiday. I believe this isolates students to a certain degree, even though it is a free at will type of situation. Every student wants to be included in fun activities they don’t want to feel left out, but there is little that can be done to make all students feel equally equal. If the holidays aren’t celebrated than that would not be fair to the students that do celebrate them and if they are it isn’t fair to the students that don’t. So it all balls done to students having choices, rather than them just being obligated to participate. I think the policies on religion have brought some sort of balance to the school system, which was very much needed.
I believe schools are not the place to teach any and everything. I believe there should be some sort of boundaries. I feel that religion shouldn’t be practiced in schools because students have different beliefs. It is not the schools place to encourage or discourage students to believe in anything other than what is taught in their homes. As a parent I want my children to learn religious beliefs from me and not a teacher because we may have different views. I want my children to believe in what I decide to teach them as oppose to what the teacher wants. Until my children are of age to choose their own preference, I would like to make that decision for them.
References:
American Civil Liberties Union (April 1995). Joint Statement of Current Law on Religion in the Public Schools. ACLU – Defending Targets of Discrimination – Religion and Schools. Retrieved from http://www.aclu.org/religion-belief/joint-statement-current-law-religion-public-schools Calefati, Jessica (Jan. 2009). Religion in Schools Debate Heats Up. US News. Retrieved from http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/on-education/2009/01/22/religion-in-schools-debate-heats-up_print.html
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