Monday, September 19, 2011
Government Regulations on Religion in Schools, Devan Owsley
When our country was first founded, it was brought to life with the idea of one nation under God. Many things we know today originated from our country's religious views. As our country continues to grow and change, it seems as if religion is slowly starting to fade away. The First Amendment of the Constitution states that, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free excersice thereof." Despite this statement,many things have started to change for free expression of religion in schools.
Let me first clarify that prayer and other religious notions are allowed in the school systems. These rights have not been abolished; however, more regulations are continuing to arise that restrict this freedom each day. Students who have religious beliefs are permitted to pray anywhere they see fit, as long as it is not disruptive to others. But what constitutes as disruptve? If a student prays too loudly, and it offends another student, does that qualify as disruptive? What if a group of Christian students get together during a free preiod to pray and a non-believer sees this, does this qualify as disruptive? The main issue with this regulation is that the word disrutive is open for interpretation. Most schools have designated times or clubs that students can participate in group religious activities. In my opinion, this is as much of an issue as students being offended by religious practices in school. I feel that making these students limit their religious practices within the guidelines of these designated times or clubs is ultimately a disregard of their freedom of speech. The only time a student should not be allowed to freely express their religious views are during class or when it is directed towards another student in a discriminating fashion.
One thing prohibited by the Constitution that really hits home with me, is the practice of religion at high school athletic events. As a student athlete and Christian for most of my life, prayer before a game is extremely important to me. The Constitution prohibits group led prayer before any school event, because is states that it could be incriminating to other students by singling them out as non-believers and placing one religion superior to another. According to the Constitution, and individual may lead a prayer with a group of willing participants, as long as it isn't a faculty led prayer. Since prayer before an athletic event is not mandatory, isn't it a bit of a contradiction to have your insipirational leader on the field or court (your coach) lead your team in a prayer? I recall one night that our football coach was scorned by parents for leading his team in a prayer. Before the prayer he gave anyone who had a problem with him leading prayer the opportunity to address the matter and if nobody minded he wanted to say a small prayer after the passing of one of our teammates. He did not try to single anyone out or place a religion superior to another. His intentions were merely to ask for strength for us in a time of tragedy and to help keep us safe and protected out there on the field. Is what he did wrong? These misinterpretations of religious practices have started to restrict the freedom of religion amongst students and faculty.
Although the Constitution allows students to have specific times or groups to practice their religion, I feel that there should be more opportunities for them. I do not believe that prayer or other religious practices should be mandatory; after all everyone has the right to decide what is best for them. But does this mean that opportunities to practice religious beliefs should be restricted as much as they are? Making students practice their religious views in specific ways is just as incriminating as asking a student to step outside during a morning prayer or moment of scilence beacuse it offends them. I think it is great that the government has tried to create even ground for all students, but restricting both sides in my opinion is not the answer. Our country's foundation rests on freedom or speech and equality for everyone and it should be no different in our school systems.
www.religioustolerance.org
www.usnews.com/education/blogs/on-education/2009/01/22/religion-in-schools-debate-heats-up
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ReplyDeleteI do not fully agree with everything you said Devan. I have been in public and private schools and understand how both work. The private school I went to was Southern Baptist and had very strong views. I was brought up Christian and attended church and everything. However, once I reached my early 20s I became an atheist. That being said, I fully support separation of church and state. I think these things are something that should stay private. If you want the option to express your religion, you have the option of attending private schools.
ReplyDeleteIt’s not that I have issues with religion, I just think that school is for learning, and religion is not the place for it. Religion is one of the only subjects, where there is an imaginary line, and if you cross it, you get personal. This can cause unneeded arguments that distract from learning. Also, most religions today teach to convert nonbelievers, which I also find to distract from the learning process. I have tons of Christian friends, family and colleagues, and I have no issues with them. I often have debates with them on friendly terms, but we just do it on our own personal time.
I like to tell people to look at the situation from outsider’s perspective. For this, I will use a bit of an exaggerated example, as to help further get my point across. I will use Satanism, though, it is a very valid religion and people have every right to believe in it as they do any other religion. However, how would people feel if Satanists openly talked about worshipping satan at school. If they talked about the séance they had the night before and how they talked to demons during it. What if that same gym teacher tried to lead a prayer to satan during a basketball game.
From an outsider, the example of a Satanist parallels to that of any other religion, Christianity included. Talking about worshipping satan or god, is the exact same. Both are valid religions and the same goes for every religion. You could compare seeing demons and talking to them to people seeing and talking to an angel. I have had many people refute my people about this, attacking my usage of Satanism. However, it is a very real religion, and they have just as much right to it as anyone else has to their religion. That being said, they don’t belong in schools.
I know this may sound farfetched, but when you actually read into it from a outsider’s perspective it makes sense. I have found myself in very uncomfortable situations due to religion being brought up an inappropriate times, and I think it is best to keep them separate.
I do agree with you on some aspects though. I am all for having religious extracurricular groups in schools. I also am not offended by prayers and light religious discussion. However, I do know it offends some, so I still think it should be separate. You just have to be careful with religion in schools, because you also have to be open to other religions coming into the school system as well. I know many people that become very uncomfortable when there are people discussing the Islamic religion around them, or when having an Islamic prayer.