Religion in Public Schools

Religion in Public Schools

Are you religious? Do you have children? What kind of environment would you like your child in while he/she is in school? A century ago, most of America’s public schools were religious schools. Over time the state has redesigned schools in order to make schools for all children and not alienate any students. The Supreme Court then accelerated the movement in 1962 when it declared that prayer in public schools was unconstitutional. Then one year later the court removed all bible reading from public school because it is a religious exercise(-------). There is no clear line between what instructors are aloud to teach in school and what they are not aloud to teach, so many laws have been written and changed. In 1995 35 agencies representing 10 religions and ethical systems wrote “Religion in Public Schools” which was a joint statement of current laws stating that religions aloud to be taught in public schools, but only if it is serving an educational purpose.(----- http://www.religioustolerance.org/ps_bibl1.htm---------) Yet what about the Supreme Court ruled out all bible reading in school, but here it states that it is legal, what law are we the people supposed to follow?

The main controversy is which side the constitution is on. The first amendment states that you have the right to freedom of religion. This would mean that religion should not be aloud in school because not every American shares the same religious belief. The first amendment also states that you have the freedom to practice this religion anywhere you choose. This meaning, that students should be aloud to practice their religious beliefs any time, even if they are in a public school. “Public schools have really become a place of neutral ground,” says senator Tom Daschle(-----------). Daschle also stated that although he learned his values as an alter boy at Sacred Heart School, he believes in separation of church and state, because children may take part in something out of the mainstream. “I don’t think I want my children to say a prayer written by Sun Myang Moon,” Daschle said, referring to the religious leader who was recently convicted of tax evasion and declared himself the messiah. House representative John Thune believes