religion in schools

[hlaalumember]

simple poll

do you think that religion should be allowed in public schools or do you think that it shouldnt be

[hlaalumember]

i think that religion should be allowed in school because were i go to school (yes it is a catholic school) Notre Dame high school there is a lot of religious influence. there are nuns teaching. and in my school there isnt a whole lot of fighting. but at this other public school called southern high school the biggest public school on guam has to call the SWAT team in at very least once every year.
That school is completley secularized. there is no religion and so there is alot of drugs fights and the occasional murder. at ND there is none of that we havent had a bomb scare in the entire 35 year history of the school but southern has one twice a year minimum. that tells me that the religious influence is neccessary in order to prevent total anarchy

[Weasel]

I will only speak of Public schools, Private schools can do whatever they want..as long as the Government doesn't fund them.

No.

First and foremost, what religion should be taught? All.

To pick one would IMHO then be seen as forcing your view on others. I see no reason for my tax money to go towards teaching a religion I might not believe in, or to go the other way, I'm sure someone else wouldn't want their tax money going towards a religion I might believe, but they do not.

There is a reason for a church and there is a reason for a school.

[C Elegans]

Yes, I think religion should be taught in school - all major religions and history of religion. Religion has had, and still has, such a profound effect on human life and human society, so understanding religion is a must IMO.

However, I am firmly against teaching according to a specific religion, as well as I am firmly against teaching according to a specific political ideology. I don't think any schools, public or private, should teach according to any specific ideology because children have less possibility of critical thinking than adults, and are at risk for manipulation and indoctrination, even mind control (brainwashing) in worst case. It is the parents who choose primary school for their kids, and parents who choose let's say a catholic school, will most often do so because they support and believe in catholisism themselves. Thus the child is influenced by catholic ideology both from parents and the school, which severly decrease the development of independant thinking and formation of a personal value system. Allowing private schools to teach whatever they wish, for instance a specific religions, means a lot of kids whos parents choose private schools, are put at risk for indoctrination and may learn more about that specific religion that they do about core subjects necessary for further education. So I view at discrimination of these kids - private and public schools should have the same basic requirements in religion as well as maths or languages, then private schools can add extra hours of a certain religion to their curriculum if they wish but uncritical teaching of religious ideas and dogma should be banned from all primary education IMO.

[fable]

If by allowing religion in schools, you mean a specific religion only, or as an influence on curricula, then my answer is no--and that's what I chose, above.

If you mean multiple religions as subjects for discussion, then I think this is possible in pluralistic cultures with a history of acceptance. But sadly, these are few.

[Tower_Master]

It depends on the interpretation of your question. If you mean a non-biased historical look at the origins of many different religions, and/or an impartial explanation of the belief systems that they follow, then I believe it should be allowed. Ignorance towards our fellow man is foolhardy at best.

However, if you mean that specific majority groups should be allowed favoritism (even unnoficially), that evangelism for ANY group would be permitted, or even that individuals should be allowed to practice their faith to the discomfiture of others, I must strongly say no (and as a practicing and believing Christian). Schools should be a place of learning, nothing more.

[Weasel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fable <SNIP> If you mean multiple religions as subjects for discussion, then I think this is possible in pluralistic cultures with a history of acceptance. <SNIP>

This I could agree with, but IMHO the US is not able to be considered a place with a history of acceptance. I would say check back in 10 years and see if the scare that one group has put into some of the older Americans has evaporated...then maybe we can try for some acceptance of our fellow humans. (Yes I live in a dream land.)

[C Elegans]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weasel This I could agree with, but IMHO the US is not able to be considered a place with a history of acceptance.

Why not? It is of course difficult to compare countries, but several European countries including Sweden have certainly not been places of acceptance either, but still it has worked out very well to implement mandatory teaching of all major world religions in primary education, and prohibit teaching of one religion as a dogma by having a National curriculum that all schools, also the private ones, must follow.

[fable]

Quote:

Originally Posted by C Elegans Why not? It is of course difficult to compare countries, but several European countries including Sweden have certainly not been places of acceptance either, but still it has worked out very well to implement mandatory teaching of all major world religions in primary education, and prohibit teaching of one religion as a dogma by having a National curriculum that all schools, also the private ones, must follow.

Because Swedish national culture has been homogeneous in nature, where the perceived threat the majority was so small that it could be tolerated. By contrast, the US is the most heterogeneous culture in the world. This has formed a perceived threat to the majority (and to smaller cultures, as well) on a regular basis. Smaller groups have either quickly blanded themselves down to fit in, or become self-ghettoized to keep their original traditions while all others were kept out.

[Weasel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by C Elegans Why not? It is of course difficult to compare countries, but several European countries including Sweden have certainly not been places of acceptance either, but still it has worked out very well to implement mandatory teaching of all major world religions in primary education, and prohibit teaching of one religion as a dogma by having a National curriculum that all schools, also the private ones, must follow.

It took National Guard Troops under a federal order just to get a black into school in some of the States and still to this day some hold a grudge for this. I would place religion for these types on a even higher ground. I see the States who passed the amendment to ban Gay Marriage and see a country with no acceptance at all. My opinion of this will cause grief and a possible banning, so I will decline to go any further.

[Skuld]

If by having religion in schools you mean the same as the presence of religion in say a catholic school, then no. But I went to public school and in 9th grade I think we spent at least a month on world religions in social studies class. That, I agree with, but having religion preached is a definate no no especially if it's just one. So I'll select no on your pole.

[Xandax]

I'm firmly in the "camp" of CE here.

I belive that it is the responcibility of schools to teach about the major (and some minor dending on curricilum) religions of the world, because it is both a cultural factor and a psycological/human factor. It is important for people to know about the world, just as much as it is to know that 2+2 = 5.

But the teachings in a school shouldn't be according to any specific religion. So no trying to teach students that the world is the center of the universe and all that.

[dragon wench]

I'm basically echoing what has already been said, but no I do *not* believe religion should be taught in schools. As CE notes, there is far too much potential to significantly influence young children whose ideas are still developing.
I had the misfortune of attending an Anglican private school from grades 9 to 12. The atmosphere was oppresive and it did not encourage thoughtful discussion of differing beliefs. Indeed... since my own views have always been quite secular... I often found myself at loggerheads with the school administration...

If various religions were taught in schools, all on an equal footing, that would be different...

[Bloodstalker]

In context of what most people in the US I have spoken to who support religion in schools, no. I don't think it belongs, and most of them would change their mind rapidly if they ever did get it passed I think.

All they see is putting God back in schools( Translation, Christianity). They don't seem to factor in that such a law would include all religions and not simply the one they believe in. I've brought this up to a few of them, and they always counter that this is a Christian nation, and should reflect that in the religion they allow to be taught.

Of course, when I ask them which denomination that would be, they tend to have a little bit of a brain freeze. Most of them here would have a fit if the schools were allowed to teach Christianity, but opted to teach Catholic views.

IMO, the seperation is there for a reason, and that reason was due to the persecution the colonists in some instances suffered from a Christian church. It's kinda hard to get that across to some people here in my area though. There are just too many differences in the denominations to even get them to agree on what version of Christianity is acceptable, much less adding anything else to the mix. If they did teach all religions, that's one thing, but anything that would seem to favor or lend more imortance to one over the other is just asking for trouble.

[C Elegans]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fable Because Swedish national culture has been homogeneous in nature, where the perceived threat the majority was so small that it could be tolerated. By contrast, the US is the most heterogeneous culture in the world.

Sweden is the worst possible comparison, but I was thinking of larger and more heterogenous countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, France and the UK. The countries with a history of colonialism also have larger populations from other continents. The sum of all the different European countries where education in all world religions work out, should be at least equal to the US population, but perhaps not as varied in ethnic background.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weasel It took National Guard Troops under a federal order just to get a black into school in some of the States and still to this day some hold a grudge for this. I would place religion for these types on a even higher ground. I see the States who passed the amendment to ban Gay Marriage and see a country with no acceptance at all. My opinion of this will cause grief and a possible banning, so I will decline to go any further.

Well, I shall not pursue the question further, it seems like conflicts and tension between different groups of the population is not at a level that makes implementation of pluralistic religion education realistic Let's hope things will change for the better in the future.