Religion and Schools Essay - 599 Words

Many of our state and federal laws are based upon Christian religious rhetoric that remain on the books, if not, always enforced. These laws that shape how our country and schools operate, even define how educators are supposed to behave. Freedom of religion, a mandate of the U.S. Constitution, yet, religion has found its way into our laws and classrooms. A clearly defined part of the Alabama Educator Code of Ethics states the following, â€Å"Standard 3: Unlawful Acts: an educator should abide by federal, state, and local laws and statutes.† However, many of the laws that are on the books about moral and ethical behavior were created utilizing religious scripture and designed to foster a Christian way of life. Thomas Jefferson, an advocate of†¦show more content†¦The state of Alabama still has many laws on the books that make it unlawful to be a homosexual. Does this mean that a gay or lesbian teacher is in violation of the law and they are morally unfit to teach? Right and wrong behavior is not black nor white. There are shades of grey that make behavior subjective and not necessarily equivocal to law-breaking behavior. It is important to note, that being an educator does come with certain responsibilities to be â€Å"moral compasses,† but who deems what is moral. In an increasingly technologically monitored world in which people can take pictures, record videos and alter images to suit their needs or biases, anyone can fall victim to unethical behavior at the hands of an angry, manipulative community member. Furthermore, are current laws and standards for educators fair or simply egregious? Matters of faith should remain for those teaching Sunday school and not for our public school teachers whose job it is to mold the intellectual component of a student’s mind. Despite David Purple’s stance that there should be a â€Å"commitment to nourishing the power of love† in our classrooms, it is neither the job nor responsibility of a school or teacher to foster religious or spiritual growth. One can hope that a student will develop a keen intellect to pursue this growth on their own utilizing the analytical skills and compassionate learning they gained in the classroom. Teachers have a responsibility to teach, beShow MoreRelatedReligion : Public Schools And Religion2002 Words   |  9 PagesReligion in Public Schools Issues involving public schools and religion have been topics involving intense debate. It is difficult for the government to elucidate the appropriate boundaries of religion in the public schools. It is true that teaching about religion is permitted in the public education systems, but the real question is where the margin should be set between teaching religion and simply teaching about religion. It is almost impossible to teach about the history of the United StatesRead MoreReligion in Schools Today1253 Words   |  6 Pagesregards to our religious beliefs. Many young children are brought up today confused about religion and the significance it plays in their lives. There are many sanctions and rules now on what can and can t be thought or displayed to people on public property, but it wasn t always like this. In this paper I will be discussing the American religious experience in regards to the impact religion has in the public schools. since 1776 the United States has grown from a nation of relatively few religiousRead MoreThe Effects Of Religion On School Performance867 Words   |  4 PagesWhy is school easy to some while almost impossible to others? Almost everyone has wondered these questions at least once throughout their school career. Religion is one area that is alleged to have a great effect on school performance. Therefore, students who are active in religion should be expected to perform better in school. Whether a child’s increased performance comes from the values which his or her religion pushes or from the environment they are immersed in, some aspect of religion is thoughtRead MoreEssay on Religion in Public Schools 1442 Words   |  6 PagesThe subject of religion in public schools is one that has been debated vigorously and passionately. The warriors from the Right and Left fail to appreciate the facts because they are caught up in the rhetoric and have difficulty viewing this emotion al topic dispassionately (Haynes, 2011). Both sides are right about one thing: this is an important subject. The debate on religion in the public school is complicated by the fact that there are two clauses dealing with religion in the First AmendmentRead MoreShould Religion Be Taught At School?1640 Words   |  7 Pages Should Comparative Religion Be Taught In School Many people have thought that religion is one of the most important aspects of our lives and that it is a structure for how we must carry ourselves. Some believe that a life without faith or religion is no life worth living at all because that is what allows them to give meaning or purpose to life. Many would agree that there are great stories about morals and traditions that each provides and we could learn a great amount of wisdom and understandingRead MoreFreedom of Religion in Public Schools1748 Words   |  7 Pagesthe 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 there are those who believe it should not be taught or practiced in school. There have been cases brought to court about how religion should be taken out of schools, or if it should be allowedRead MoreReligion and Public school Essay1652 Words   |  7 Pagesestablished religion. To prevent this from happening in America, the Framers of the constitution banished the ability for the state to interfere with religion, and vice versa. Yet over time this mixture of government and religion has been tested, especially in cases involving school and religion. Like any argument, there is a party which agrees and another which disagrees. When looking at schools and practices of religion, there is a side that believe the mixture of school and religion is just andRead MoreThe Practice of Religion in Public Schools762 Words   |  4 PagesThe Practice of Religion in Public Schools The â€Å"establishment† or â€Å"religion† clause of the First Amendment of the Constitution reads: â€Å"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof† (Education Week, 2003, para. 2). It is from this clause that the idea of separation of church and state comes. It is also the basis for much of the debate regarding the practice of religion in public schools (Education Week, 2003). OneRead MoreReligion in Public Schools Essay1131 Words   |  5 PagesDefinition: Religion in school is the practice of any personal religious beliefs in a place of education. Introduction: In recent years teaching 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 there are those who believe it shouldRead MorePrayer and Religion in School Essay1055 Words   |  5 PagesReligion and prayer can benefit students in educational settings by positively contributing to better grades and behavior. Personal faith and prayer are important to people in many walks of life. Some individuals believe that this need for religious stimulation includes the youth in our school systems. There are different reasons why knowledge of religion and prayer can be important to students. For example, if students do not know about diverse faiths, it can be difficult for them to have a well-rounded