Religion In the Public Schools

 

Issue: Teaching about Religion

 

        

 

 

"Public schools can neither foster religion nor preclude it. Our public schools must treat religion with fairness and respect and vigorously protect religious expression as well as the freedom of conscience of all other students. In so doing our public schools reaffirm the First Amendment and enrich the lives of their students". Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley June 1998

 

Religious freedom is an important issue and a touchy subject in the public school system.  According to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting free exercise thereof.”  The U.S. Department of Public Education has issued various guidelines concerning religious practices in the public schools. These guidelines regarding teaching about religion are as follows:

 

“Public schools may not provide religious instruction, but they may teach about religion… the history of religion, comparative religion, the Bible (or other scripture) as literature, and the role of religion in the history of the United States and other countries are all permissible subjects… Although public schools may teach about religious holidays… and may celebrate the secular aspects of holidays, schools may not observe holidays as religious events or promote such observance by students.”

 

This decision was upheld in court several times, including in the Abington School District v. Schempp case, in which the State of Pennsylvania was sued to change a law which required daily Bible readings in the public schools.  One of the most heated debates has been the Scopes trial, where a teacher was challenged for teaching evolution in the classroom.  It is now required that teachers demonstrate both sides of the issue when teaching the origins of the universe in science classrooms.

 

There are many guidelines for teaching religious subject matter in public school classrooms.  Teachers should be respectful of all traditions, and take care not to promote stereotypes or their religious preference.  This issue is commonly faced around the holidays, and especially with religious music.  In most schools it is appropriate to teach a song from each religion, and provide historical information about each holiday (Ramadan, Kwanzaa, Christmas, Hanukkah, etc); however, it would not be appropriate for a public school teacher to organize the school choir in singing religious Christmas hymns.

 

Religious education has a place in the public schools, but only in the form of historical teaching. Every effort should be made to present an accurate and non-biased account of different religions.  Teachers should never endorse or discourage any particular religion, and should take care to represent as many different religions as possible in a historical basis- they should approach teaching of religious subjects objectively, with respect for students beliefs, and without endorsing or compromising their students’ or their own or beliefs.

 

 

 

Links Concerning Religion in Public Schools and Separation of Church and State:

 

Information for teaching all views of Evolution and Creationism in the classroom

FACT: An overall view of religious liberty as defined by U.S. Supreme Court cases

Department of Education Secretary’s Speech concerning religion in schools

Information on the O’Hair family’s activities in separation of church and state

 

 

 

 

Jennifer L. Silva

CI 5378J- Summer 2002