Austin Fontenot
28 Feb 2013
Religion and Education
The study of religion in the class room has been a big dispute for a while now. Making religion right in public schools really matters because religion and religious liberty matter. "Part of the problem is widespread misunderstanding regarding U.S. law"(Religion). Students should be able to express the religion freely in the class room even if religion is not an actual class being taught. We as Americans have the freedom of religion and that cannot be taken away. Now, this can be a very touchy subject and can cause much difficulty on the schools, but it cannot go unexamined. Should students be able to express their views on religion in the class or must teachers put a cap on top of this.
"In the wake of controversial and widely misrepresented U.S. Supreme Court decisions banning state-sponsored religious practices, worried educators often overacted by trying to keep all religion out of schools." (Haynes 9). Teachers are told not to discuss religion if it does not have to be mentioned in class. Although students do bring it up teachers are told not to get involved in the situation. Which is not the best thing in some cases, because religion should not be taken lightly. Even in students text books religion is stated widely throughout, so at one point it has to be discussed. "Wont students conclude that all religions are nice"( Martin 10). Also, students have religious group meetings on a day to day basis.
"Hundreds, if not thousands, of high school campuses; the sight of Christian students praying around the flagpole or in the lunchroom is commonplace."(Haynes 9) This only is proof of religion being seen and heard at school, but also says that even though it is not school mandated students will still show their freedom to pray. It is very easy to see that students will not be put down on their faith, but only grow stronger due to the lack of efforts by the teachers in the education of religion in the...