Should Religion Be Taught In Public Schools

Should the public school system teach religion to their students? This question has been an ongoing debate among parents and teachers for decades. In the article “Religion and Education: The Pitfalls of Engaging a Complex Issue” Martin E. Marty and Jonathan Moore express their views on the matter. Religion in the public school system is still an ongoing debate one that needs to be resolved. Marty and Moore discuss a very controversial topic in their article. The topic of whether or not public schools should teach religion. It’s such a controversial topic because both sides of the argument have good logical reasons. Religion is the most controversial discussion. Out of all the different topics why religion? One reason for this is because

There are the people that think religion should be taught in public schools and the others that think it shouldn't. The first of these two groups argues that it should be taught because it is essential to understand different people's beliefs and views. Also schools are to teach children how to live in a democracy, thus, they need to learn how to understand other people's views. Religion is a major part of history; you can't explain history without it. The second group of people argue that religion should not be taught because it is the right of the parents to decide what their children should or shouldn't know about different religious groups. Some parents may want their kids to be submerged in one religion, not having the choice to choose for themselves what religion they want. They don’t want their kids to get confused on what is the truth and what isn’t. This group also argues that religion is a complex subject for teachers to have to teach their

In the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution we read “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances” (Robinson). Therefore, schools can not force religion on their students. On the contrary schools can also not take away the right of students to speak freely of religion.

If religion were taught in public schools how would teachers add it into their curriculum? This is a valid question that would have to be carefully thought out. Some parents may remember back to their college education when they had trouble handling the philosophical questions in religion. How are we supposed to expect high school or even middle school children to understand those same philosophies? Religion classes don’t have to start out that complex. The curriculum can expand within each grade level. Private schools have succeeded in this area for many