Teach Religion in Public Schools?

Within the Public School system schools are not allowed to organize a prayer service....say for a student severely injured in a car crash. The claim is separation of church and "state" most of the time. Student organized is fine, before or after school hours.

So what if public schools offered religion classes as electives at the high school level (9th-12th)? Once a child hits high school age the number of elective class slots grows until graduation. So.......

Would people be open to allowing religion classes as electives though. Then it is an option to the students and not mandated by the "state", so it maintains the separation of church and "state".

Progression of the classes could be....
Religion 101......Basics of the top 5 religions in the world.
Beginning (pick your religion)......goes more in depth about one of the top 5 religions.
Advanced (pick your religion)......goes more into the study of one of the top 5 religions.

 

I agree with two things:

1. Teaching religion in public school is not allowed.

2. Teaching about religion in public school is allowed.

I believe the above is how the law currently stands.

 

So long as the classes are used to proselytize, then they are fine as electives.

But I'm going to bet conservative teachers in the South and Midwest are going to have a hard time teaching a comparative religion class without proselytizing for Christianity.

 

I think is OK in public schools to cover religion, as long as it's islam.

 

The difference between schools teaching about religion and them hosting religious services is the same as the difference between schools teaching about biological reproduction and them hosting orgies.

 

Without being state mandated that should pass Constitutionality. There is a practical problem in that in school systems that have a multitude of religions the cost of such a plan would be astronomical unless the various religious groups sent a volunteer teacher. You need Baptists, Sadists, Methodists, acatholics, Eastern Orthodox, Hindus, , Janes, Satanist, Wickans , Druids and that sect that dances naked in the woods on the Summer Solstice, Druids and Jews, all of the North American, and South American tribal religions, Sun Worshipers and Nudists, Did I forget anyone?

 

Why would you waste class time on fairy tales when something valuable and useful could be learned? If people want to lie to their kids about bronze age nonsense, send them to a parochial school and pay the premium. In public schools, funded by tax payer dollars, religious nonsense has no place.

 

But wouldn't orgies be the lab portion of the theory of sex !! I could just see that as an Advanced Placement class -
We could combine Civics with Sex and teach The Achievement of a. Substantial and Sustained Erection During the Presidential Election Cycle....sex 505


Or the mundane -
"The Practical Application of World Sexual Practices 101....:::: ".i or Achievement of More satisfying Orgasms Through The Application of Herbs 102

 

If a kid wants to learn more about religion I'm betting most religions have something similar to 'Sunday school'.

 

I think the Holocaust is mostly nonsense too so does that mean I can demand that it not be taught in public schools?

 

Christians think it would be a good idea to have their religion taught in public school ... until the reality hits them that they might very well have a Mormon teaching Baptist kids about Christianity.

The Law of Unintended Consequences always bites one in the arse.

 

"Sunday school" doesn't teach about religion. Sunday school indoctrinates children into a religion.

 

The current public school system ran by the Federal government and Federal Courts needs to be abolished.

All K-12 schools outside of military and diplomatic posts need to be ran entirely by the local community with the option of loose state control.

 

Teach morals, manners, how to be a lady and gentleman.

 

Quoted the above just for the irony of the whole damn thing.

 

Just like how the second DeVos gets state funded vouchers for religious schools passed, you are going to see the Church of Satan, Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, and Church of Scientology all applying to get federal funding for their schools that they will start opening.

 

Your belief is not relevant when talking about events that actually took place. Religious idiocy has no business being taught in public schools.

 

Whether the Holocaust did take place or not is no the point. I was just trying to show that people can have different ideas for what schools should teach. Further, what should we do when people disagree with the government on what should be taught?

Some people think religion is important but apparently you think it's nonsense. So who should we listen to?

 

Of course people have different ideas what to teach in school. What I do know is there exists a barrier between government and religious idiocy for a reason. Promoting fairy tales is not the business of the public school system. Schools exist where kids can get a brainwashing of idiotic religious nonsense if their parents so choose. Send them there if you want to lie to your children.

 

So, as long as you personally believe very strongly that religion is "idiocy" and that it's "promoting fairy tales", that means you get to impose your idea of what's proper to teach in schools on other people? Maybe some religious people think YOU are the one who is spouting nonsense.

 

The fact that the holocaust is even questioned is enlightening & frightening. I agree some people think religion is important, if you want it taught, that is what churches, mosques, temples synagogues etc. are for - or in the home. Religion should never be taught in a publicly funded school, period. Sane people tire of hearing how the earth is 7,000 years old, evolution is false and humans and dinosaurs existed on the planet at the same time.....

Now, I think courses which teach ABOUT the various religions are okay, religion is a big part of our human past (for all the wrong reasons, LOL). Teaching about religion is certainly not the same as teaching religion. And if people disagree i.e. want religion taught in public schools this isn't going to happen, period. If parents want a religious education for their children, there are alternatives.

 

Good point, but how will one teach what one does not practice?

 

I was being a little facetious so in reality I strongly believe that it us the oarents rights and responsibility to teach or get religion thought fir heir children and not the nanny state.

 

This is your personal opinion. Why should you get to force it on other people? Maybe some people think religion should be taught in a public school. So who should we listen to?

 

No, it is not my personal opinion, it is the law. SCOTUS ruled on this over 50 years ago. Again, in public schools it is okay to offer courses / teach ABOUT religions but it is NOT okay to teach religion.