Does religion belong in public schools?

Question

I am taking a summer course in English, and we have to do a argumentative research paper. My chosen topic is religion in our schools. I believe that it belongs in our schools, but I'm having trouble finding credible facts to prove it. Does anyone have any ideas???

Answer 1

Look up statistics on when prayer was in schools and when they took it out. There is some great stuff out there.

I'd love to read your paper when your finished. :)

Answer 2

everyone has a lot of ideas when it comes to religion!!! trouble is agreeing on a particular idea. For example, I think that religion is the root cause of most of the evil in the world... an irony... when you come to think that it is supposed to fight evil. but on the other side of the coin, every religion is closely related to the culture and customs of the land, and because of this, it is imperative that it is taught in the schools.

Now I feel in the current society, there should be a course called religion which opens the eyes of the students to all the religions, not just the ones they practice at home, this way there will def be more understanding and respect for the other religions.

Of course, it is all speculation and ideas... what actually happens, is that each individual religion will be supported and a biased view will be spread, because of numerous reasons that are indirectly related with religion... which is a shame.

Last point (though it should have been first) where exactly are these school, India? which state?

Second edit... when i started writing this note, there was not a single entry, by the time i finished.. there were more than i was willing to count. But about the topic, i believe it is a good one. but be open minded to both views and come to a conclusion based on the points you are putting forward. One reason for introducing religion in school, is because of the peer discussions that can follow, and most of the things a child learns these days are anyway from school and friends and not from home. it is a def positive to introduce, but how is the biggest and most difficult part of its execution!!! i wish you luck!

cheers.

Answer 3

First off...there is a difference between "morality" taught in school and "religion".
I do think there needs to be more morals in school, such as respect for ourselves and each other, authoritative figures being just that, and so on and so forth...
But do I think that religion should be in school...no. Not everyone is Christian, or Muslim, or practice Judism. Religion should be for the home, for the church, for like-minded people...but not actually taught in a classroom...unless it is a private school and parents know what they're getting into; and even then, religion should be an electorite.
To have religion in school, you either need to have all or none...but morals in school, manners, ect. I see no problem with that...
I also agree with both evolution and creationism being taught...and you can teach creationism without it be a certain religions creationism...the idea of a "God" has been proven through Intelligent Design...now does that mean the Christian God, no...but it is a "God" nonetheless...
So in closing...do your paper if you wish to...but I personally don't see a merit writting about how it should be in school, unless you're going to make the case that all religions should be taught. Happy Writting.

Answer 4

Religion belongs in public colleges as part of comparative religion or philosophy studies but that is it. It does not belong in any grade lower than college. First, we have separation of church and state and that should be enough of an argument against it. Second, if you bring back christianity it is discrimination to make a jew or muslim or atheists adhere to religious practices that are not in their belief system. Third, American schools have a hard enough time teaching the basic subject given some of the recent standardized tests that have come out and need to concentrate on the first and foremost. Leave the teaching of religion to the parents and their church or religious group.

Answer 5

I don't know why not. As of the way things are now in schools it would only be a good thing. If you look at cliches, clubs or most important gangs there is religion it is just not very positive. Kids are looking for something to hold onto and those are the only choices they have.. Maybe if there was religion taught in schools then kids would have a positive to learn from. The big obstacle would be to teach those teaching the religion to teach acceptance of the other religions being taught.

Answer 6

NO! I believe that school is for academics and Sunday School/Church and the home is the place for learning about God.

I would have no problem with The History of Religions being taught, but if you were going to "teach" religion, which one would you choose? The one the Principal follows?

We have enough problems shoving in all the "test-taking" material. Add a religion class to that and you're just busted.

If you open the door for one religion, you have the open the door for all religions and I don't think that's what you want.

Oil and Water.

Answer 7

I believe in God as well, but I do not believe that it belongs in public schools. I know of no facts to really endorse your opinion, probably because the topic is entirely subjective. I do know that the idea of schools endorsing a particular religion is incompatible with the structure of our government. Not all people will agree on the subject of religion, so it is impossible to standardize it for public schools. I do believe that students should be able to practice their religion reasonably while at school, but it should not interfere with classes and it should not be part of the curriculum.

Answer 8

I don't agree with your opinion. The only way it might possibly be presented in public schools is via a course in comparative religions, and then someone would get ticked off and sue if their particular religion was overlooked or given short shrift. Next some atheists would be yelling and screaming and get the ACLU involved. Best not to stir up a big hornets nest. So leave religion out of the public schools altogether..its best to present it only on the college level.

Answer 9

First, I am an atheist. I believe that religion should be taught in the schools. This country and our laws are based in the Judeo-Christian traditions. A large majority of our country are Christian. It is ridiculous to not teach it in the schools. It is a part of cultural literacy. Other religions should also be taught as it relates to world issues.

Religion should not be taught like it would be taught in a Bible study. Children should not be memorizing verses but they should have a solid understanding of the Christian religion and how our lives are shaped by it.

Although not directly on topic I referred to it in my answer. Check out Cultural Literacy by E.D. Hirsch. He also wrote the books "What every first grader should know", "What every second grader should know", etc. Might help you out some.

Answer 10

Christians often seem to like the idea but they should be careful what they wish for.

Let us take the example of England. I was educated there, although now I live in the US.

From the age of four until you leave school at 16 or 18 prayer was in school every day. Each day we would get together in the main hall and up until the age of 11 we would sing at least two hymns each day and say the Lords Prayer. At the age of 11 I switched to a private Catholic school which was run by monks (although not as strict as the stereotype for that kind of school).

What is interesting about England is that despite most people spending 12 years of their education saying a prayer each day, saying grace, singing hymns religion is on a sharp decline in England. Churches are closing down. One near my home was converted into a sports bar. For a country raised on religion and Christianity it is astonishing how few people choose to attend church or even call themselves religious. Even in my Catholic school among my friends only two of them went to church regularly.

So while Christians in America may think that prayer and religion in school is going to solve the ills of society and increase religious involvement I'd say the exact opposite is true in England.

As far as America goes, this country was founded on the principle of religious freedom. A child has every evening, every weekend, and every school vacation to attend church, Sunday school, Bible study, Bible camp etc. I don't see how religion needs to be shoved down their throat in schools too. Furthermore to introduce Christianity to schools creates several problems. Which sect do you support and teach? How do you cope with Muslims, Catholics, Hindus? Do you tell them that their ideas are wrong? Then you end up right back at the kind of religious persecution that the founding fathers were trying to avoid.

America, quite frankly, does a horrible job of educating children. In most international studies America underachieves in all the basic areas that education should be providing, which is shocking for the richest and most powerful nation in the world. So until America gets the core subjects taught properly they do not need to be adding additional subjects and devoting time to prayer and other religious activities.

Answer 11

Well our christian faith was so important to us that our fore fathers left their countries so that they could practice their religion as they pleased. Christopher Columbus was a Christian. When the decloration of independence was wrote there was christian values wrote in it, so if our fore fathers believed it was important to put it on such an important document, as well as practiced in the government at that time, then therefore I think it is important to pass those religious values to our children because they are the future of our country. Religious values are important in helping to build values and morals in our society. Ok I know there are all kinds of religions in our country now adays, but the foundation is a christian perspective, so give the children a 30min or more time limit to have prayer in their own religion. Anyway all in all they should put religion back in schools, and if the atheist do not like oh well send your children to a private atheist school or something because the majority of us are christian and we have the right to be proud of what our fore fathers as well as our parents have enstilled in us. P.S. No we should start at an early age teaching our children our values. IF the atheist don't like oh well they should get over it, because if they are not worried about their eternal destiny and they think when they die they are just gone then why should they be worried about their children. Christian are getting tired of feeling like we are being pushed against a wall we have just as much right and more so since this country was founded on a christian religion.