Religion Public Schools And Religion - 2002 Words

Religion 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 States without teaching that religious beliefs associated with the history, artwork, and literature. More than the public is lead to believe, The Constitution permits religious activities in and around public school buildings. It is unfortunate that the†¦show more content†¦Department of Education describes the current laws regarding religion within the public schools. He states that it is, in fact, constitutional to teach about religion in public schools. Also, students have the right to pray individually or in gro ups about their religious values with other students as long as they do not disrupt the students who do not wish to participate. Riley goes on to say that in the classroom, students have the right to read The Bible, and pray quietly to themselves except when they are required to participate in the regular class activities. Teachers or school administrators, however, are prohibited from encouraging religious or non-religious activities to students. Riley comments that during class, teachers can teach about a particular religion, but they are not permitted to teach that or any other religion. Things like, the history of different religions, or religion as literature are permissible subjects within the public schools. Obviously, schools would want to teach the role of religion in the history of the United States since it is such an important part of the country’s history. Riley points out that the same types of laws apply when teaching about the theories of evolution. The school s can teach the different explanations of why there is life on earth but they can only present the evidence and not the religious beliefs. When it comes to assignments or homework,