Prayer In Schools Essay

Jews, but how does that differ from a small country town in Oklahoma where the

In schools, the place where Americans first learned critical fundamentals and values of freedom, religion is separated from home life to school life. In the United States, 89% of public school teacher’s cannot lead a class in prayer, 36% can teach a class comparing religions in different countries, and only 23% can read from the Bible for examples of literature (citation). Without religious instruction in schools, students are not granted with the option to display their faith and practice their religion in a school setting. Despite the advantages, some Americans argue that teaching religion in public schools can be dangerous and harmful to students. Schools disapproving of students practicing

When working with students assignments that deals with religion, we as educators have to take various things into considerations. We have to allow students the opportunity to express themselves even when dealing with religious

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.

For centuries, the debate has existed whether or not to allow prayer in public schools. Many Americans feel it is not right of the schools to teach religion. With all the diversity associated with the United States, public schools cannot select one standard religion to practice, due to the cultural and religious differences in the country. Not only are schools the storm center of controversy involving religious differences, they are the principal institution charged with transmitting the identity and mission of the United States from one generation to the next. If we fail in our school policies and classrooms to model and to teach how to live with differences, we endanger our experiment in religious liberty and our

Teaching prayer in schools has been a controversial topic since Abington Township School District v. Schempp (1963) that removed prayer from the classroom. However, a Bible-literacy course at New Braunfels High School (NBHS) in Texas exemplifies the successful teaching of the religion without imposing it on the students. This is an ideal that would satisfy both conservative Christians and secular liberals. The consensus that David Van Biema comes to in his article “The Case for Teaching the Bible” is that schools should teach the Bible from a neutral perspective that allows students to understand the concepts behind the text’s arguments while observing and forming their own beliefs and opinions.

Providing students to explore one’s religion or spirituality can begin to bridge the separation that exists between faith traditions in institutions. Dr. Casey mentions repeatedly that “the term religion is problematic,” and although this is true, this perspective can change. Religion is so deeply engrained in individuals and this does not have to form a type of “war zone,” but instead, it can provide us with an opportunity to learn about other citizens, rather than creating a sense fear or anxiety within us. Although we may be living in “an age of chaos today,” building understanding amongst global citizens is the prominence of religion in this

They may try to teach about other religions but always talk more about their own without realizing it. The problem with this is many teachers do not know enough about their religion let alone others religions to teach a child the correct information on the subject (Godfrey). This leads to parents not wanting their children to take a public religion course based on the fact the a teacher may be biased and not teach it right. It does not teach their children how to be tolerant and accepting of any or all other religion if a course is centered around only one

but, so far no compromise has been agreed upon. This is due to the fact that

However, it would be more beneficial for schools to include religion in their curricula, for it prepares children for their futures. Since there are various religions in the United States, none of which are limited to a certain area, students are bound to come across someone who practices a different faith in their lifetimes. If public schools were to include theology, children would be more open-minded, aware, and tolerant of these religions, thus preventing discrimination, prejudice, and even violence and acts of targeted terrorism in the future because of these differing beliefs. Religious education would benefit children of all ages, religions and cultural backgrounds, as it would provide them with a better understanding of one another, and a sense of companionship and acceptance from their

"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

This experience was unlike that of previous experiences I have had in the classroom because there are no classes or programs set up in the education system that focus on spreading religion or one’s beliefs. Given this, the

For a variety of reasons, many educators are understandably reluctant to raise the topic of religion in the classroom. They worry about offending a student, misrepresenting a tradition, or favoring one belief system over another. Because of this and the Segregation of Church and State, we have become very uneducated in the subject area. This raises the heated debate, “Should world religion be taught or introduced in (public) grade schools?” Although the debate is split 50/50, research show that many parents and educators are supportive for unbiased teaching of the world religion in public schools.

By teaching religions in a positive attribute, schools can help prevent bullying over religion in and out of school. Many people have stated that teasing over their religious beliefs started as early as kindergarten (Wertheimer). Along with ending bullying, it could finish off ignorance towards others and types of offencive language. By teaching people about religions, we could end stereotypes like Jews being greedy or Muslim people being related with terrorists (Bradunas). Following this, America’s religious diversity is extremely high. This may lead to people interacting and meeting more with people who have different ideals and mentalities. By teaching people world religions, this can prevent awkward situations from arising and it is ideal for making friends and bonds with others (Wilson). Along with this, students have knowledge of most common world religions to use in the future. Going back to the bullying topic, the earlier we teach children about world religions, the less there will be bullying cause by religion. By teaching in extremely simple terms, teachers can prevent misunderstanding or confusion over what is being taught

In this essay, I am going to discuss religious education under various topic headings including R.E and the R.E teacher, World Religions and morality and ethics. Through attending lectures and seminars, I have learned a lot about the Religious Education system in Ireland and further afield. Furthermore, in my reflective journal, I have reflected on a world of possibilities of what religion means to me. Throughout the year, my opinions on certain topics has changed, or has strengthen and I feel the reflective journal has helped me. In the essay, I am hoping to include reflections, readings and my experiences from the lectures and seminars to discover the various of topics.