The Practice of Religious Beliefs in Public Classrooms

1
The Practice of Religious Beliefs in Public
Classrooms

• Lauren Altieri
• March 13, 2003

2
Definition of Religion

• Universal Definition applies to all religions
• Sectarian Definition applies only to certain
  religions
• Text definition (this information can be
  found in Human Diversity in Education).
• Websters definition

3
Religion in Public Schools

• Historical View
• The Case Against School Prayer
• The Case For School Prayer
• Opportunities to Pray
• What Does The Constitution Prohibit?
• What Does The Constitution Allow?

4
Historical View

• Separation between Church and State
• Establishment no state support to create or
  maintain religion.
• Prohibition no state law for the practice of
  religion.
• -This information can be
  found in Multicultural Education, Issues and
  Perspectives, by James Bank.
• 19th and 20th Century Conflicts
• between Protestants and Catholics
• over precise text of prayers
• Horace Mann
• In the 1840s, he accomplished the elimination
  of sectarianism from American Schools.
• -what was eliminated?
• - You can find more about this information in
  School Prayers, by John Laubach

5
The Case Against School Prayer

• Public schools exist to educate, not to convert
  religious beliefs.
• Religion is private
• Influencing a childs personal view
• It is the duty of the parents and churches to
  educate their children about religion
• The singled-out student

6
The Case For School Prayer

• Why should we require prayer in the classrooms?
• Sense of order
• Reduces problems
• -drug problems, school violence,
  teen pregnancy
• Replacing Sunday schools
• -PSR

7

• Importance of teaching religion
• The Bible is a fundamental document.
• knowing about world religions and religious
  traditions.
• Many classes are somehow related to religion.
  
• 
  

8
Opportunities To Pray

• Prayer is allowed
• in school buses
• at the flag pole
• in student religious clubs
• in the hallway
• in the cafeteria -This information was
  found in Religion the State and Education, by Sam
  Duker.
• Where is it not permitted?
• Religious Clubs

9
What Does The Constitution Prohibit?

• Particular religions as being superior to any
  other.
• Religion in general as superior to a secular
  approach to life.
• Secularism in general as superior to a religious
  approach to life.
• Teachers may not be antagonistic
• to religion
• to secularism

10

• The law prohibits
• Requiring students to recite prayers in
  class.
• Public prayer at High School games.
• Banning the wearing of religious clothing
  and symbols.

11
What Does The Constitution Allow?

• Teaching Religion
• Influences on
• - art
• - history
• - music
• - literature
• - social studies
• Graduation Ceremonies
• Student Religious Clubs
• Equal Access Act
• -Learn more about what the Constitution allows
  in School Prayers, by John Laubach.

12

• Moment of Silence
• Prayer outside of the school building
• School flagpole
• Public school students are allowed to
• Carry a Bible of religious texts to and in
  schools
• Pray before eating
• Can pray on the bus, in the cafeteria, in
  classrooms before and after class, in the
  hallways, and in restrooms.
• Wear clothing with religious text and wear
  religious symbols.
• Talk freely about religion outside of class

13
Survey Of World Religions Number of followers.
3
3
4
6
33
14
15
22
14
Resources

• Bank, James, Multicultural Education, Issues and
  Perspectives.
• Cushner, Kenneth, Averil McClenlland, Philip
  Safford, Human Diversity in Education.
• Duker, Sam, The Public School and Religion.
• Laubach, John Herbert, School Prayers.
• Wood, James, Religion The State and Education.