Role of Religion in Public Schools?

hiya everyone

What is the role of religion in public schools? should it be completely avoided or should all religions be given equal weight? What about religion in terms of history? Does religious education in school develop tolerance and acceptance in the students, or does it defy separation of church and state? should children learn about religion as part of their curriculum?

I specified public schools because religion based private schools like madrassa, catholic school etc obviously will focus on a specific religion and I dont see any harm in it (the parents choose to send their child there fully aware of this and usually all the children follow the same religion so it shouldnt be an issue)

Are we discussing a topic based on religion in DM? 😊

Okay, if we are, I think that religious preaching should be left out or atleast not be influential over curriculum in a public school.
Luckily, I am very proud to follow a religion that does not interfere with any peace, any science / any other religion.

Having said that, if public school in a particular country, say the USA does seem to have teachers of a certain religion, at times getting preachy, one cannot complain about that. One should move one's own children to a place where they belong and blend better.

Originally posted by: ~LiL*PrInCeZ~

hiya everyone

What is the role of religion in public schools? should it be completely avoided or should all religions be given equal weight? What about religion in terms of history? Does religious education in school develop tolerance and acceptance in the students, or does it defy separation of church and state? should children learn about religion as part of their curriculum?

I specified public schools because religion based private schools like madrassa, catholic school etc obviously will focus on a specific religion and I dont see any harm in it (the parents choose to send their child there fully aware of this and usually all the children follow the same religion so it shouldnt be an issue)

Sure being secular doesnt mean we shouldnt talk about religion, no comparision amongst religion should be allowed or negatives of religion should be avoided, if a school ensures that, religion can be a part of school

Kids go to school to learn, religion is a part of everyone's life. Kids have to be taught to respect each other's religions, A school is the right place to teach that

on the other hand not talking about a religion doesnt mean everyone respects others religions

Originally posted by: mermaid_QT

Are we discussing a topic based on religion in DM? 😊

Okay, if we are, I think that religious preaching should be left out or atleast not be influential over curriculum in a public school.
Luckily, I am very proud to follow a religion that does not interfere with any peace, any science / any other religion.

Having said that, if public school in a particular country, say the USA does seem to have teachers of a certain religion, at times getting preachy, one cannot complain about that. One should move one's own children to a place where they belong and blend better.

likewise qt😃

Religion, I think, is a personal matter and better left that way. i don't want the schools to associate with religion in any way. as it is there are so many peer pressure related problems in school. why to add religion to this already volatile mix of all nationalities and races in public schools??? what would happen to kids who come from families who follow their religion moderately? wouldn't these kids feel like an outcast as compared to devout hardcore religious people? I say religion is better left outside public schools. i would like to end my post with a decison from a court of law which goes like this:

"There is no such source and cause of strife, quarrel, fights, malignant opposition, persecution, and war, and all evil in the state, as religion. Let it once enter our civil affairs, our government would soon be destroyed. Let it once enter our common schools, they would be destroyed."

Supreme Court of Wisconsin, Weiss v. District Board, 1890-MAR-18.

Originally posted by: sareg

Sure being secular doesnt mean we shouldnt talk about religion, no comparision amongst religion should be allowed or negatives of religion should be avoided, if a school ensures that, religion can be a part of school
Kids go to school to learn, religion is a part of everyone's life. Kids have to be taught to respect each other's religions, A school is the right place to teach that.
on the other hand not talking about a religion doesnt mean everyone respects others religions

very nice points there vineet!

My only concern with the middle part in bold is that I would hate it if my kid was not taught EVOLUTION 😳. I am against any religious preaching in school that defies a rather logical and PROVEN concept presented by science.

i feel you should know your religion well but not take it to school. i mean you can't hate someone just for the religion they are right? aur school mein to hota hain aisa like here in America it happens all the time
religion plays a large role 😳

religion is a must in schools no matter which... 😊

Originally posted by: qwertyesque

religion is a must in schools no matter which... 😊

Agree .....but reason 😊

Originally posted by: Morning_Dew

Agree .....but reason 😊

😆😆 if they had taught religion in school when qwerty was little, then this naastik would have been an aastik too.......j/k😆

Originally posted by: sareg

Sure being secular doesnt mean we shouldnt talk about religion, no comparision amongst religion should be allowed or negatives of religion should be avoided, if a school ensures that, religion can be a part of school

Kids go to school to learn, religion is a part of everyone's life. Kids have to be taught to respect each other's religions, A school is the right place to teach that

on the other hand not talking about a religion doesnt mean everyone respects others religions

I agree at the bold part.. Kids have to learn to respect all religions and all major religions should be covered in school. I learnt about Catholic religion in my primary school and Vedic/Arya Samaj stuff later which was completely different (Vaishnavism) then what was practised at home.😊