Abraham Lincoln once said, “I don’t like that man. I must get to know him better.” There are too many times humans judge other people based on looks or religious practices. But like Lincoln said, there is no true way of knowing if you agree or like someone until you get to know them. Ask yourself: how often do I judge based on what someone worships? I know I’m guilty. But it’s because I’m not totally sure of everything that goes on in someone’s religion. World religions need to be taught in schools to help expand the minds to students, to bring awareness to cultures, and to see how religion has always had a role throughout mankind. First, all schools have suffered under the influence of bullying. Since the school yard was invented, there have always been an individual or group that tends to lean towards making fun of the “nerdy” kid. However, it is not always the case. Due to the fact that there are over four-thousand religions in the world, and the United States is home to nearly eight percent of those religions, it is more likely that there are going to be more students of different kinds of religions in schools. If students are not familiar with the religion, they …show more content…
Unless he or she goes out of their way to study or become interested in other cultures, there is a chance they will not understand any other way of life but their own. By teaching world religions in schools, students are made aware of other cultures. They learn how some groups of people have been living their life for centuries. They see beauty and tradition that has never even come to their attention. If students are taught world religion in schools, they will be more interested in seeking others to help better the world. They will have a connection with most people, and they will be able to understand how people worship and live their
Religion was and is beneficial to schools because it sets a positive tone. Schools and teachers setting a consistent positive tone for students was broken when prayer was taken out of schools. Prayer helped teachers to set an enlightened tone among their students’ day, as well as aided them to push them in a positive direction. The positive tone in schools helped to promote unity. Teachers are supposed to be positive role models to children, as the absence of both mother and father in homes continually diminishes. There is also less bullying among students when religion is in schools.
This week's assignment has taught me a lot about religious oppression and how it's affecting our world today. One thing that I really found interesting is religious diversity in schools in America. While reading section 58 in our textbook, I grasped more information about the different ways religion has an effect on the lives of students on a school campus. While discussing religion in a school setting; I believe that it is important to remember that a
I vividly remember sitting in my ninth grade world history class, only six short years ago, when my teacher announced that next week we would begin a four week study on world religions. A nervous murmur swept through thirty students, all thinking the
In recent years, teaching religion, or the individual practice of religion in school, has become a very controversial topic. There are many different views on this matter and even more opinions on how it should be handled. There are people on both sides of the spectrum; there are those who believe that it should be taught and allowed in school, and those who believe it should not be taught or practiced in school. If the practice of religion were an option in public schools, students may become more tolerant, as well as knowledgeable, of religions and cultures beyond their own. Secondly, a time interval during the day may be implemented into the school schedule to allow the practice of student’s personal beliefs. Finally, since prayer was eliminated from public school systems, the nation has seen a decrease in education and the increase in crime rate. Even though public schools today are without school prayer, most schools have replaced prayer with a "silent moment of reflection." Prayer should be established into schools, because it generates the exposure to other cultures, allows a calming period for students, and creates well-rounded individuals in society.
Religion has always been a hot topic in today’s world. No matter where a person may go people are talking about it; except in public schools. School has such a big impact on children because they go everyday. In public schools they only talk about one subject regarding religion, one belief -evolution. Schools should have other options for students to learn about the existence of our world and the lives that occupy it. For example, creationism. Creationism is the belief that the universe and all living organisms originated by acts of divine power, as illustrated in the Bible.
Many outsider views have changed negatively since the enlightenment (McConnell, 10) however, the fact still stands that religion is one of the most powerful influences on a person’s decisions throughout whether it is an actual religion or the lack thereof. The Supreme Court even states that “it is legitimate for the public schools to inculcate values” and most values of present day society are often based on religious beliefs. Inculcating religion into the lives of students in the public school is not only both historically and presently permissible but also beneficial to the three main areas of a school system.
"I do not believe that any type of religion should ever be introduced into the public schools of the United States." -Thomas Edison. Religion and prayer in public schools is a big controversy for schools in the United States. School officials cannot take sides on religion since it will violate the first amendment which states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Establishing a specific religion in public school violates the first amendment, therefore public schools have to remain neutral when it comes to the matter of religion. Some people believe that teaching about religion should not be allowed considering it violates the separation of church and state, but that is not true. There are many issues regarding religion in public schools, however exercising your personal religion independently is not one of them. (Leitch, 1)
Until the early 1960s, religion was accepted in most public school systems across our nation. One of the main purposes for school in early America was for religious purposes (Prothero). Benjamin Franklin stated, "It is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand." Thomas Jefferson stated, "The question isn't what religion is true. The question is what religious traditions do we need to know something about in order to be an effective citizen." Something that can be beneficial to our nation should not be taken away. Even though religion offends some people, it should be allowed in public schools because of its influence on America and western civilizations, and its ability to help form closer relationships.
Religion in school can be defined as the practice of any personal religious belief or act in a place of education. To say that religion is a big topic of interest to a lot of people in the United States today is a bit of an understatement. The debate over the separation of church and state has been going on without end for years. With many different perspectives on the matter and even more opinions on how it should be handled. Since the beginning many people have challenged the role that religion has played in education. Should schools teach religion? If so, can they do it evenhandedly? Will they misinterpret the religion wrong? How many people would be offended? Would we be better off without it so that it doesn’t cause controversy? The problem is can we truly answer any of these arguments without the opposite side disagreeing? Many of these questions are rooted from the same controversy that is happening in schools today. Aside from the separation of church and states comes one of the vastly debatable topics of education allowing religion which is prayer in school. While a few believe that prayer in school is constructive to the development of a child and their faith, others may conclude that it could completely denounce the faith of a child. Because this is an ongoing controversy further research on whether religion should or should not be allowed in public education is usually boils down to two major points the First Amendment and is religion good for our children? Could we potentially have a compromise or could the two opposing sides meet somewhere in the middle?
passage of the bible." Bu t that had to stop. People didn't have the same
Sneaking religion into public school is becoming an uncomfortable dispute for students. Last year at my public high school we had a couple encounters with this dilemma. A Christian group called young life was to make an appearance. There were flyers around the halls advertising free pizza and ice cream at lunch time if we came to the meeting. Representatives came the lunch period the day before to walk around and promote the meeting. I did not know anything about the group, but there was free pizza so of course I went with a couple of friends. They put on a small video presentation about the group. At the beginning, it showed kids traveling to different camps and having lots of fun. About halfway through the video, it showed the kids praying and it started to talk about Christianity. I had no problem with this except for the fact that I had tricked into coming to this meeting. My friend turned to me and said, “Wait, is this a bible group”. I rea...
Many individuals believe that the first amendment prohibits religion to be taught or exercised in a public school setting. They believe this because they feel as if it infringes on an American citizen’s right. Often times there can be discrimination against minority groups. An example of this was after the 9/11 attack in New York. Discrimination against Sikh-Americans became increasingly worse because they were often accused of being allied with Al Qaeda. People are worried that if we do teach the religion in school, bullying will grow to become an even bigger problem (“Religion in Schools: A”).
University of Michigan. “Religion in Schools: A look at how religious practices influence education.” .
the school should be disrespectful of the important role religion plays for many students. Courts
Dan Dennette 's speech about teaching all religions in schools has some truth to it. I do think that all schools should teach about religion. It is critical for students to learn about their religion