For this lesson we were given a handout with the rules about religion for the public school system, and we had to answer a few questions about the handout. This is important for all future teachers to know, of course.
EDUC 2120 – Lesson 11 – Religion and the Public School
Evaluation
Explain what is meant by this statement, “The school’s approach to religion must be academic and not devotional.”
I believe this means that teachers shouldn’t be teaching religion by what they think it means and how they feel about it, but by what the textbook means. Teachers can’t teach what they want to about religion in the school system, they have to teach what is required.
Why do you think the framers of the Constitution prohibited the establishment of a state religion and also guaranteed the free exercise of religious beliefs? Explain.
The state may never prefer or prohibit religious activities in the school, but must remain neutral. The Free Exercise of Religion was made for the students. Because of this, students are able to volunteer and be excused for their own religious practices.
Do students have the right to form religious or political clubs below the secondary level? (ie., middle and elementary school) Explain.
Well, I didn’t find an exact answer in the article, but I would think that if it’s okay for high school students to form religious or political clubs, it would be okay for the secondary level. That’s why the Free Exercise of Religion was made, for students to have their right to pray individually as long as it’s not interrupting regular school activities.
May a teacher refuse to teach certain materials in class if she feels the curriculum infringes on her personal beliefs? Explain.
A teacher should never refuse to teach certain materials in class even if he/she doesn’t agree with it. Teachers are in a school system to teach required materials for academic reasons, while impacting the lives of their students.
How should teachers respond if students ask them about their religious beliefs?
Because teachers aren’t supposed to talk about their own religious beliefs, teachers shouldn’t avoid the question or ignore the student, but the teacher should simply tell the student that they aren’t allowed to answer such questions under the school building or during school hours.
May a student pray at graduation exercises or at other school-sponsored events? Explain.
According to the article, prayer at high school graduation or other school-sponsored events violates the Establishment Clause. The First Amendment outlaws school-sponsored prayer or religious indoctrination. Even if a student asks to be excused for a religious act or volunteers, it violates the Establishment Clause.
Respond to this scenario:
Should Mr. Parker have asked the student to explain Hanukkah? Should he have asked her mother? Explain.
By asking the student to explain Hanukkah, he singled her out in front of all of her peers. After trying to explain to the class what Hanukkah was, she went home and told her mother about the incident, which led to Mr. Parker asking the mother to come visit his class to give more detail and to explain all about Hanukkah instead. I don’t think that Mr. Parker did anything entirely wrong here, I just believe that he could have done some research himself to find out about the holiday to try to better explain it to his students. If he wanted input from others in his class, he could simply say “if any student has any input on the holiday, Hanukkah, feel free to chime in.” I don’t see anything wrong with asking the whole class, but I don’t think you should single out a student.
Summary
I thought this lesson was rather interesting. It was interesting to learn about all of the religion rights in public schools, what’s okay and what’s not okay. Although, some of them confuse me because at some schools it’s okay to pray at school events (graduation, football games…) and others it’s not, it was interesting anyways.
Research Question
Is it ever okay for teachers to get involved in religious activities with their students?
Reference(s): http://www.teacherswhopray.org/your-legal-rights/
Research Analysis
Teachers who wish to get involved in religious activities with their students, they can do so outside of their students view.
“See You at the Pole” is a student held even that takes place before school even begins. Teachers are told to monitor the student’s activities, but this doesn’t mean to participate, but that’s if it were during school hours. The only time it is okay for a teacher to get involved with SYATP is if they legally go to the event as a private citizen before their workday began. If teachers wish to participate in prayer during school hours, they have to do it out of their student’s view, like the teacher’s lounge.
The same situation for teachers involving SYATP, is the same for the Bible studies/clubs. A teacher is only allowed to attend the bible studies if they are assigned to watch after that activity. This activity also has to be student-lead and student-initiated.
Lastly, if a teacher wants to pray for one of his or her students, or a student asks their teacher to pray with them, it would have to be done outside of the classroom and away from school campus, always.
Research Summary
My research amazes me at how little teachers can do within the school building when it comes to religion. There were lots of other things that I could have put in my research analysis but only picked the top three that I thought was the most interesting. Religion is a big thing in the South, and some of these confuse me because it’s okay to do some things at some schools, but not at others. I guess I’ve got a lot to learn.