Why do public schools do not teach religion?

Answer 1

If they have to teach about religion, about which religion should they teach? Thats why instead of teaching about any religion, they try to teach moral science and bring awareness of moral values and human values in children.

Answer 2

The reason is because it is a public school. Public schools are funded by the government. There is something called "Seperation between Church and State" which means your government can not force any type of religion on any government facility or program. If you want a school to teach religion how about you or your child enroll in a private religious school. that way you can have all the religion you want taught to you or your child every day. The cirriculum even requires such things as mass everyday or on specific days.

Answer 3

Public schools do teach about religion. In my high school they offered religious courses such as the monotheistic religions of the west (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) and the religions of the east (Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Taoism, etc). However teachers are not allowed to embrace a certain religion, especially outside of a religious course because of the separation of religion from state. Since there are varying religious views, embracing a certain religion would cause someone to be offended, causing a confrontation. That is why creationism (or intelligent design) cannot be taught in schools, because it demands that a creator deity exits. Since people believe that talking about the possibility of a god existing is religious. Evolution is taught in schools because it teaches that everything came into existance without a deity. By promoting a religion, you are also putting down another religion, because different religious beliefs contradict. It all boils down to tolerance, and allowing society to get along without any confrontations.

Answer 4

Religion is taught in schools - objectively. Public schools are bound by state taxes and must adhere to the First Amendment. As long as the public tax dollars aren't paying for it, it doesn't count (for example, one may hold Bible study groups AFTER school in the public building as long as taxes aren't paying to fund the wages of whomever must stay to keep the school open at that time.)

If you believe public schools do this to be fair, you are mistaken; they do it so they are not sued for civil liberties violations.

And if you feel it's because Liberals run this country and Liberals hate religion you are also wrong. Liberals simply seek to maintain the values on which this nations was founded.

The First Amendment rocks.

Answer 5

A lot of reasons
1 - how many religions would they offer
2 - what part of religion would they teach
3 - who would teach
4 - there are to many views to start that

it could be done if public schools would segregate, buy race, and religion or teach one religion and that would be a requirement to attend public schools, I think catholic would be the best choice

Answer 6

Some of them do. For example, some schools in California teach the fundamentals of the Islamic religion.

Answer 7

Because there are so many different religions. It wouldn't be fair to have a Muslim or catholic in a baptists class. i think it should be offered as an OPTION to students as long as the school taught about different religions, not just one. i would have loved to learn about different religions when i was in high school.

However, Georgia may be starting something. They are offering a class to students as an elective that teaches the King James version of the bible.

Answer 8

Not sure, teaching about them is important.

If your religion doesn't allow for open viewpoints with other religions (including atheists), then you don't belong in our public school system.

Edit: and 'separation of church and state' has nothing to do with this. He asked about teaching about religion, not practicing it.

Answer 9

Separation of Church and State has absolutely nothing to do with this issue, contrary to the apparently popular beliefs. Separation of Church and State says that the government cannot pass laws that are beneficial to one certain religion, or force the people to follow one certain religion. It was put in to place because the people who came to America were seeking religious freedom, they did not want to be a part of the Church of England.

Religion IS taught in schools. For example, one of the standards for 6th grade history in California is the following:

6.3 Students analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the Ancient Hebrews.
a. Describe the origins and significance of Judaism as the first monotheistic religion based on the concept of one God who sets down moral laws for humanity.
b. Identify the sources of the ethical teachings and central beliefs of Judaism (the Hebrew Bible, the Commentaries): belief in God, observance of law, practice of the concepts of righteousness and justice, and importance of study; and describe how the ideas of the Hebrew traditions are reflected in the moral and ethical traditions of Western civilization.
c. Explain the significance of Abraham, Moses, Naomi, Ruth, David, and Yohanan ben Zaccai in the development of the Jewish religion.
d. Discuss the locations of the settlements and movements of Hebrew peoples, including the Exodus and their movement to and from Egypt, and outline the significance of the Exodus to the Jewish and other people.
e. Discuss how Judaism survived and developed despite the continuing dispersion of much of the Jewish population from Jerusalem and the rest of Israel after the destruction of the second Temple in A.D. 70.

The standards actually cover a variety of religions, throughout a child's school career.

There are Christian clubs on school campuses, there are Islamic clubs, there are Jewish clubs...whatever clubs the students would like to start. Teachers are advisors for these clubs, but they are student led.

As a teacher, I may talk with my students about my beliefs when they bring it up. I am not allowed to require them to pray, fast, or any other sort of religious action...but we certainly are allowed to discuss them if the situation arises.

Hope this helps.

Answer 10

Because public schools are liberal and because most of the population is Christian, they would have to teach a lot of Christianity. And liberals do not like Christianity that much, nor teaching it in school.