Hey ashley,

Welcome to the boards.  Way to pick a really hot topic!  My daughter goes to public school and my husband teaches at a religious school, so I see both sides.  I feel that it is important to not post any specific religion's rules or commandments in a public school---there can be people of many different faiths in a public school and it is a place where there shouldn't really be any perception that one religion is the only one that matters and I don't think that it is possible to cover every religion.  I don't feel that if you send your child to a public school you are depriving them of a religious education, they have the church and their parents to teach that to them.  If one can't afford to send their child to a religious school but would like their child to have that sort of education, there are lots of scholarship opportunties in those private schools.  I think should be an individual choice as to the education you want your child to receive but public school is not the place for one religion to be promoted.

What does everyone else think?

Marti

http://www.familyeducation.com/home/

Hey Marti,         Why not make public schools the void of any beliefs, it already is the void of any real education already. My child attends a catholic school and with the help of some seriously underpaid and dedicated teachers and lets not forget that aweful power of faith in God he is thriving. I dont believe you seriously think there are scholarships! what a joke. I do realize it is our decision to send our child to Catholic school what I do not comprehend is why we have to support thru our tax dollars the FAILURE that is the public school.  Do public school parents help support the catholic schools in their area? I THINK NOT!!                                                    

hey lilmonte,

As a matter of fact my husband is one of those seriously underpaid and dedicated Catholic school teachers.  And there are scholarships that are given to many children every year.  In addition, Catholic children receive a discount at the school. 

As far as the tax argument goes there are lots of things that people have to pay taxes to that they may not use or don't agree with---the war being one, schools being another, medicare, etc.  As a society, we elect people to represent us and they get to decide where our taxes go.

And there are many people who do not have children in school at all who support both public schools and other private schools.  I am a public school parent and I support our Catholic schools around here.  I give to their giving campaign every year and I just donated about $6000.00 worth of books to a Catholic school here. 

I don't agree that public school is devoid of any real education, my daughter goes to one of the best schools in our state and it is a public school.  She has many opportunities and many great teachers.  I am okay with her not being taught their religious beliefs because we are teaching her values and giving her the spiritual guidance she needs here at home.  I think it is great if you want your child to have religion in school but I don't think it belongs in public school.

Marti

http://www.familyeducation.com/home/

Dear Ashley,

I think that the goverment made a huge mistake when they took prayer out of school. The last time I checked the United States is one nation under God. I do believe that people with other religious preferences should be able to practice there religion here also if they should choose to do so.That's their decision.I saw on the news how a coach had told a muslim girl that she had to take her scarf off of her head in order to play soccer.That was an Horrible act on his part. You also have many other different religious people who have certain rights to be excused from school thoughout the year and there are no complaits. So why is it that when children want to just pray it's a problem. Do we not Pledge to the Flag that we honor? I do agree that there should be specific limitations on any religion in school. Why is it that Christ is being taken slowly out of eveything ?  For ex. X-mas, Happy Hollidays. Do we take out anything from other religions as well. We all should have certain rights in school.

I've read the responses and most seem reasonable, but there are some that are promoting stereotypical nonsense due to their own bias.  Here's what they are:

1.  All public schools are poor educators.  MYTH.  Public school quality varies by region, state, county and even each school.  Some are very good, some are very bad, many are average.

2.  Limiting religious teaching in schools has contributed to declining American values/morals.  MYTH.  Studies do not support this myth.  There are many contributors to America's social problems, and most are economic, not religious.  In fact, most law breakers are believers in some kind of god.  They have bad social skills, but do not lack in religious training.  Also, many countries that are far less religious get along quite nicely, with less violence and moral decline than America.

3.  The presumption that America is a "Christian" nation.  MYTH.  America is a nation of free religious practice.  No religion enjoys a place of official validity.  Every person is free to choose their religion, or no religion at all.  The only practical and fair way to support this doctrine is to refrain from indoctrinating children into any particular religion in school.

4.  God is banished from school.  MYTH.  Religion is still practiced and even taught in school in many ways.  No single religion can be promoted above others and no teacher may prosletyze to children, nor are they allowed to denigrate any religion they do not agree with.  Teachers sometimes break these rules, and it is the responsibility of the principal and/or the school board to properly dicipline teachers who do this.

5.  Finally, any person who thinks that they really want religion to be taught in public school should think again.  Whatever religion you practice, whatever traditions and rules you abide by, there is the likelyhood that your children's teachers practice a different set of rules.  Would you like a teacher teaching your child something that contrdicts your own religious beliefs?  There is simply no pracical way to teach each and every set of beliefs to all children.  Christianity alone has hundres of sects, each with its own special set of rules and traditions.

Please be considerate of people who do not believe in invisible father figures.  We don't fill your child's head full of fantasies.  Please don't fill our child's head with them either.