Critical Respone #3

How can religion being taught in schools be used to bring people together rather than divide them?

I am of the opinion that students would benefit from having religion taught in schools because by learning about others religions, this would in effect make people have a great understanding from where their classmates are coming from. Often times throughout history, religion has been viewed as a taboo subject in schools, that education should be completely secular as not everyone is of the same mindset. There are also many critiques on this subject as most religions are in contrast to many scientific beliefs taught in schools. I propose that by teaching students about all religions and customs, we are in effect teaching tolerance and a future where all people have a common thread and appreciation.
All religions stem from one another in some way, and it is important to show students of all ages what the underlying themes are for them all. In this way, it will be seen that people are not all that different from each other simply because of their belief systems. By bringing religion into the learning environment, it is not to impose a certain belief on anyone, but rather to explain the pre-existing ideas of the religions, break down stereotypes, and fight against prejudices. In order to successfully teach religion in public schools there should be certain goals in mind, one of which is an acknowledgment that public schools are for students of all worldviews, whether religions or non-religions, and the professional understanding that public school teachers need to exercise extreme neutrality when teaching about religion.
The Educators Reference Desk, 2009 site speaks from the viewpoint that the US was a nation that was founded upon freedom, and that includes religious freedom. Students need to be open- minded, free thinkers and so must learn all about one another so that the concept can be carried through to future generations. The classroom should in effect be an open space, where one can share their ideas and opinions openly. That is not to say however that any student should feel they are being criticized for their beliefs, and should not be made to feel alienated for being “different.” On the contrary, learning about each others pasts and heritage should lead students to feel more connected to one another on a spiritual level. As we learned in this weeks King and Wang (2007) reading, diversity should be something to be valued, and the more diverse a classroom and/or corporate environment is, the more well rounded ideas can be made, and understanding can be developed.
The RPERC (Religion and Public Education Resource Center) is a site that provides general information on the ethical, legal, and educational issues that come up when in regards to religion and public education. They discuss a variety of issues and ways teachers can handle these issues when broaching the topic of religion. One of the problems with today’s educators is that they often do not know how exactly to approach teaching this controversial topic. Many curriculums today in our countries middle schools focus on the religions of India, China, and the Middle East in history classes. These general overviews of religions help to give students a well rounded view of other cultures, while applying them to today’s relevant current events that are affecting the whole world, including our own country. Learning where people originate, and their ideals, and why country leaders react in the way they do are all fundamental basics to understanding each other.
In 1988 the California State Board of Education adopted a History- Social Science Framework which includes attention to religion in K-12 schools. This concept strongly encouraged the idea of religious importance in the world and within the US and expressed that students should become familiar with ethical traditions and religions within a temporal space. – RPERC, 2009. This act really encompasses everything that I believe is important in teaching religious tolerance, which is the cause of many of the problems in the world we live in today. This needs to be done in all cultures and not just our own, as the Middle East has been fighting between each other for years because of this problem. We need to teach religious tolerance in today’s youth, so that they can grow up with a true comprehension of their fellow citizens.




Works Cited:

The Educators Reference Desk (2009). From Official Site. Web Site: http://www.eduref.org/.

The Religion and Public Education Resource Center (2009). From Official Site Web site: http://www.csuchico.edu/rs/rperc/proj.html

King, K., & Wang. (2007). Comparative Adult Education Around the Globe: International Portraits and Readings of the History, Practice, Philosophy, and Theiroies of Adult Learning. Zhejiang University Press.