religion in the classroom
“Knowledge about religions is not only characteristic of an educated person, but is also absolutely necessary for understanding and living in a world of diversity.”
—National Council for the Social Studies
The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life released a survey that measured how much adult Americans know about world religions. Surprisingly, the surveyed population scored a 50% and even some adults didn't fully know about their own religion. While this survey only looked at adults, it would come as no surprise that religion is usually left alone in the classroom. This is usually done out of fear of violating the 1st Amendment, but teachers can teach religion without showing preference for one specific religion.
FreedomForum.org released a pdf entitled A Teacher's Guide to Religion in Public Schools which covers a variety of frequently asked questions about teaching religion in a classroom. On the topic of actually teaching religion in the classroom, FreedomForum quotes Associate Justice Tom Clark's ruling of Abington vs Schempp:
[I]t might well be said that one’s education is not complete without a study of comparative religion or the history of religion and its relationship to the advancement of civilization. ...Nothing we have said here indicates that such study of the Bible or of religion, when presented objectively as part of a secular program of education, may not be effected consistently with the First Amendment.
This being said, a teacher shouldn't fear teaching religion from a educational perspective. It will enhance a student's mind about diversity that they may encounter within their lives. Because religion has played a key role in history and society as a whole, both in the past and in the present, it's essential to learning about religion in order to gain a wider view of the world's cultures.
FreedomForum also gives three principles endorsed by different groups about approaching the topic of religion in schools. They are as follows:
1. As the Supreme Court has made clear, study about religion in public schools is constitutional.
2. Inclusion of study about religion is important in order for students to be properly educated about history and cultures.
3. Religion must be taught objectively and neutrally. The purpose of public schools is to educate students about a variety of religious traditions, not to indoctrinate them into any tradition.
The rest of FreedomForum's FAQ on teaching religion in schools can be viewed here.
—National Council for the Social Studies
The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life released a survey that measured how much adult Americans know about world religions. Surprisingly, the surveyed population scored a 50% and even some adults didn't fully know about their own religion. While this survey only looked at adults, it would come as no surprise that religion is usually left alone in the classroom. This is usually done out of fear of violating the 1st Amendment, but teachers can teach religion without showing preference for one specific religion.
FreedomForum.org released a pdf entitled A Teacher's Guide to Religion in Public Schools which covers a variety of frequently asked questions about teaching religion in a classroom. On the topic of actually teaching religion in the classroom, FreedomForum quotes Associate Justice Tom Clark's ruling of Abington vs Schempp:
[I]t might well be said that one’s education is not complete without a study of comparative religion or the history of religion and its relationship to the advancement of civilization. ...Nothing we have said here indicates that such study of the Bible or of religion, when presented objectively as part of a secular program of education, may not be effected consistently with the First Amendment.
This being said, a teacher shouldn't fear teaching religion from a educational perspective. It will enhance a student's mind about diversity that they may encounter within their lives. Because religion has played a key role in history and society as a whole, both in the past and in the present, it's essential to learning about religion in order to gain a wider view of the world's cultures.
FreedomForum also gives three principles endorsed by different groups about approaching the topic of religion in schools. They are as follows:
1. As the Supreme Court has made clear, study about religion in public schools is constitutional.
2. Inclusion of study about religion is important in order for students to be properly educated about history and cultures.
3. Religion must be taught objectively and neutrally. The purpose of public schools is to educate students about a variety of religious traditions, not to indoctrinate them into any tradition.
The rest of FreedomForum's FAQ on teaching religion in schools can be viewed here.
citations
Freedom Forum. (2011). A teacher's guide to religion in public schools. (pp. 70-86). Retrieved from http://www.freedomforum.org/publications/first/findingcommonground/B06.TeachersGuide.pdf
Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. (2012). Comparitive religions: Us religious landscape survey. Retrieved from http://religions.pewforum.org/comparisons
Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. (2012). Comparitive religions: Us religious landscape survey. Retrieved from http://religions.pewforum.org/comparisons