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-What place, if any, does religion play in schools today?
-What about indoctrination? Isn't that wrong?
-How should religion be taught in schools?
-Does the first amendment prohibit religion from being taught in schools?
-Is this important anyway?

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Final Project Presentation Social Issues in Education EDUC-280 Diana O'Leary 11-26-2022.pptx

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Final Project Presentation Social Issues in Education EDUC-280 Diana O'Leary 11-26-2022.pptx

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Store photos and docs online. Access them from any PC, Mac or phone. Create and work together on Word, Excel or PowerPoint documents.

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Associate Professor of Humanities and Social Studies Education Geir Skeie at Stockholm University

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Religion plays a big role in all areas of life today, including schools. From politics to personal life to workplace environment and classroom environment, religion affects the way you live your life whether you realize it or not. This is the most common theme I have found among all sources in my research on the topic at large.

Religion, also, is an institution. It is an institution in the same way that family and education are institutions. If educators agree that teaching family values, teaching about the major influences other institutions such as the government play in society, and providing good education, then religion needs to be discussed in schools as well.

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Words are important, so, we must discuss technical language. An important distinction in the language to be used about religion in schools today is that many who support religious topics being taught in school are not promoting that religion is taught for faith development nor for acceptance of one faith as right and neither for indoctrinational purposes. Rather, these proponents are asking for teaching about religion from an academic perspective. Therefore, the argument to be made is that teachers might teach about religion and never simply teach religion. (Posnick-Goodwin, 2022)

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- "I think religion in school is very important for making it better or easier for people to live together in society - which is diverse. And, school is, now, one of the few collective or common arenas where these issues can be taken up. This is why religious education is still important in school."
~Geir Skeie

- "The quality of religious education is not improved by teaching less religion."
~ Catholic Education Service

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ReligionForBreakfast explores recent developments of religion in school from a Tennessee legislative bill.

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Imagine if the school systems taught about religion in an accepting and impartial way. Imagine classrooms that discuss and learn from one another about other religions and beliefs. Imagine students who are accepting, kind, and understanding of many different belief systems in the world. Would Baisat have had these poor experiences in her life?

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A young person's story about racism and Islamophobia

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Students, by cause of the first amendment, have the right to wear expressive clothing, make hand-outs, and speak out about topics in the schools. However, schools withhold the right to quell any student behavior that disrupts the functioning of the classroom or the school environment (Freedom Forum Institute, 2022). The first amendment doesn't prohibit religious expression, religious topics, or even just the mention of religion in schools, rather it protects it.

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Crash Course explores freedom of speech in the U.S. today.

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Freedom of Speech: Crash Course Government and Politics #25

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1.) Posnick-Goodwin, Sherry. “Teaching about Religion.” NEA, 2022, https://www.nea.org/professional-excellence/student-engagement/tools-tips/teaching-about-religion.
2.) Freedom Forum Institute. “What Rights to Freedom of Expression Do Students Have?” Freedom Forum Institute, 2022, https://www.freedomforuminstitute.org/about/faq/what-rights-to-freedom-of-expression-do-students-have/.
3.) Merripedia. “Effects of Religious Practice on Education.” Effects of Religious Practice on Education [Marripedia], 2018, https://marripedia.org/effects_of_religious_practice_on_education.
4.) ADL. “Religion in the Curriculum.” ADL, 7 Sept. 2012, https://www.adl.org/education/resources/tools-and-strategies/religion-in-public-schools/curriculum.

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Over 40% of students are affected regularly by religion in schools. The study shows that 40% say they wear religious clothing or jewelry. However, this statistic does not include students who are too afraid of stereotypes, bias, or hate from peers to express their religious beliefs at school. This means that there are over 40% of students in today's schools that hold and express religious beliefs. This is a staggering number of students who are not included by the schools severe lack of religious education.

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Contrary to popular belief, the Bible can be taught as literature in schools today. The line is crossed, per se, when it is studied for religious doctrine, for example. (ADL, 2012)

Additionally, because religion has significant impacts on historical events, mathematical discoveries, scientific advancements, composition and performance of music, creation of art, and the writing of literature and poetry it becomes almost impossible to eliminate all reference or mention of religion from every class, textbook, or learning goal. Without the institution of religion, we would not have many of the things we enjoy today such as The Creation of Adam or The Last Supper, the well-known hymn Amazing Grace by John Newton, the discovery of general and special relativity by Einstien, and the pioneering of the scientific method by Galileo Galilee. Why should this be excluded from the curriculum? It should not be excluded!

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A Canadian teacher explains why religion should be taught in classrooms today

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Should Religion Be Taught in Public Schools? | Dr. Safiyyah Ally

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"Religion increases the family’s human capital in many ways. For instance, religiously involved parents were more likely to plan successfully for the future and to structure their children’s activities in ways that increased their children’s likelihood of taking advanced math courses and graduating from high school. Another study showed that family cohesion, which religious practice increases, is associated with increased internal locus of control and academic competence among youth. Family cohesion also influenced the way youth dealt with problems." (Merripedia, 2018)

Organizations such as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) provide positive community education and support in schools today. FCA commonly hosts sports clinics, sports camps, Huddles (Bible studies), one-on-one teaching/training, and Training Table (a food ministry). These events are all student and family-oriented and benefit students. Students who may not have food to eat at home can find some at an FCA Huddle (a Bible study) or the Training Table. Or the students who may not be able to pay for the materials needed to attend Bible study (paper, pen, Bible, etc.) can attend (and obtain value from the event) because those materials are provided to the student. This shows that religious groups in schools have a positive impact on families and students today!