...Freedom of Religion and Public Education The United States came about by people who fled their homes in search of one thing, religious freedom. It was the search for religious freedom that brought people from their homes to cross thousands of miles on boats. This search for the right to practice religion freely is the reason that religious freedom is considered so important in the United States, and is secured for its citizens through the first amendment which reads “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ...” (as cited in Killian, 1994). This article calls for the separation of church and state as well as the protection of religious liberty. The importance of separation through the government not promoting or endorsing any form of religion, is often felt in the public school system. The reason that the separation is felt in the public education system is because public school is a government program so, it is not allowed to endorse any religion, however, the students who attend there must be allowed to retain their religious liberty. This conflict has brought about valid opinions and concerns for the different aspects of religion found in a school setting. These aspects include prayer in school being allowed in the school; the teaching of religion in...
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...Freedom of Religion and Public Education The United States came to be because people fled their homes in search of one thing, religious freedom. It was the search for religious freedom that motivated people to leave their homes and cross thousands of miles on boats to come to America. This search for the right to practice religion freely is the reason that religious freedom is considered so important in the United States. And it is secured for its citizens through the first amendment, which reads “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ...” (as cited by Killian, 1994). This part of the article calls for the separation of church and state as well as the protection of religious...
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...and State ... and School” Should religion be restricted from public schools? Even in 2014, religion in public schools continues to be an intense elusive issue. The right to freedom of religion is so central to democracy that it was embedded in the First Amendment of our U.S. Constitution. Our Founding Fathers wisely endorsed strict separation of church and state to ensure religious freedom for all faiths and individuals. The First Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof ...” (U.S. Constitution – December 15, 1791). These two clauses promote free practice of religion by Americans without state interference. Compliance and adherence with the separation of church and state must be enforced in the nation's public schools, yet religion should not be completely restricted from the public school system. Not supporting religion is extremely important in the public school setting because of the specific vulnerability and sensitivity of students. Most children hold teachers and administration at a high level of expectation, viewing them as significant authority figures. Furthermore, children are highly gullible to coercion. Introducing religion in the public schools create these significant risk. In addition, American public schools are growing increasingly diverse. Schools must institute special consideration to the fact that many schoolchildren belong to minority religions or are raised in...
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...Issues Module 2: Religious Issues Matt Landahl Grand Canyon University: EDA-555: Legal Issues In Education 08-15-2012 Module 2: Religious Issues The topic of religion has been a stagnant and emotional debate within the educational system since the beginning of public education as well as the first steps of the constitution. The Constitutional First Amendment states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech.” With this saying citizens feel it is their constitutional right to practice religion or prayer in any setting including public schools. Several issues that arise in the public schools are; saying God in the Pledge of Allegiance, vaccinations of students, and student led religious activities in the public school setting. These issues have led to many debates and court cases. Religion will be an ongoing controversy in public schools since there are different interpretations of the Constitutional Amendments. It is imperative for an administrator of the school to know and understand the laws, to stay neutral, and to seek legal advice when dealing with separation of church and state One of the most controversial issues in the United States and public schools is the use of the word God in the Pledge of Allegiance. This debate dates as far back at 1892 when Francis Bellamy wrote the pledge without the words “under god” (Russo, 2004). However...
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...Prayer in Public Schools Raymond Ballou PHI 200 Instructor: Michelle Loudermilk 3/31/12 America’s Decline: Banning Prayer in Public Schools A very controversial widespread issue today is the right to have volunteer prayer in public schools. This issue has been constantly debated for years whether prayer in public schools should be permitted. For more than 200 years, public schools were allowed voluntary prayer. Our forefathers built our nation on Christian values. The first English settlers came to America for the right to freedom and to worship God in their own way. In Colonial America, most schools were run by the churches. The first settlers in America felt that it was important that children learned to read so that they could read their Bibles. Prayer has been a part of our culture as long as there have been public schools; this helped the students develop morals and learn right from wrong. School prayer was a natural part of the settler’s school life. There is a casual relationship between taking prayer out of our schools and the downfall of our society today. The basic dispute over this issue is that it violates The First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States and the separation of church and state. The First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States gives every individual the same rights. One right is the constitutional protection for the free exercise of religion. The second right is prohibition of the establishment of religion by the state...
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...our schools today has almost died out completely. Prayer is a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to god or an object of worship. As it states in the First Amendment that it protects the right to freedom of expression from government interference. Although prayer in school may focus on religion, violate the first amendment, and separation of church and state, there are some good things and bad that come out of prayer in schools. Being that we are an unequal society and everyone has his or her own personal opinion on prayer in our schools; it still remains one of the most controversial issues today. Just like the different types of religion. The decision to take prayer out of public schools has become one of the most controversial issues throughout our society. The argument of whether prayer should or should not be allowed is so misunderstood. When determining whether or not prayer should be allowed in public schools, it is important to consider both the advantages and disadvantages. In our society, 90% of America’s children attend public schools. The children that attend public schools come from homes that use a fluctuation of religion or don’t practice religion at all. The good and bad of prayer in public schools are not a cut and dry issue. There are many outlets to this matter. The arguments of the people that want to banish prayer in the school system are not giving the children and possible their own children no chance at religion making...
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...the rights granted to them by the U.S. Constitution. Whether they use their freedom of speech to protest abortion, freedom of press to attack gay rights, or freedom of religion to form a church, they all enjoy it without being threatened by their government. These rights are the basis of the American government. No one can take them away, and the American people are quick to support one who has these rights violated. While they are alright with after-school clubs meeting in public school buildings, when clubs with religious beliefs try to access one of these buildings they often want to deny them the right to use the building because of...
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...Prayer In School Kevin Magilligan Grand Canyon Univ Prayer In Schools The United States was founded on freedom. One of those freedoms is the Freedom of Religion. Our forefathers knew that there had to be a separation of church and state. This allowed citizens of the US to practice any religion they may chose and the government would not interfere. A plethora of court cases have ruled that having prayer in school is unconstitutional. While having prayer in school that is not sponsored by the administration is constitutional. Groups such as Moms in Prayer are for having prayer in schools. While the American Civil Liberties Union are against having prayers in schools. "To secure the people's right to acknowledge God according to the dictates of conscience: Neither the United States nor any State shall establish any official religion, but the people's right to pray and to recognize their religious beliefs, heritage, and traditions on public property, including schools, shall not be infringed. The United States and the States shall not compose school prayers, not require any person to join in prayer or other religious activity." Congressman Ernest Istook (R-OK). Prayer in school is a debate that has been going on since the 1960’s with the landmark case of Engle V Vitale. The case found that a school wide solicited prayer recited by the students was unconstitutional. This ruling led to other litigation where school sponsored prayer was not allowed, such as during sporting...
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...on the basic principles of America: freedom, equal opportunity, and rights accompanied by responsibilities.” (Nelson, n.d., quote 1). From a personal perspective this quote can be interpreted as, while many individuals might have a personal opinion or definition of what it means to be an American, there is still a clear foundation in which it is built upon. It is viewed that it is the rights, freedoms, and opportunities for all, and with those liberties also comes a responsibility to all individuals. Such responsibilities to ourselves and others include moral obligations, ethical behavior, and respect. As members of society, there are situations that may be difficult that...
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...AN EXAMINATION OF FREEDOM OF RELIGION PROVISIONS IN PUBLIC BODIES IN NEW ZEALAND, CANADA, AND THE UNITED STATES by ELIZABETH G. FOX 28 August 2009 1 I INTRODUCTION New Zealand does not have a state religion in the way that other countries do.1 The Church of England, for example, has its doctrine and prayer book ratified by Parliament and has the Queen as supreme authority over both ecclesiastical and civil matters.2 However, the central legislators of this country listen to the Speaker of the House open each Parliamentary session with the following prayer.3 Almighty God, humbly acknowledging our need for Thy guidance in all things, and laying aside all private and personal interests, we beseech Thee to grant that we may conduct the affairs of this House and of our country to the glory of Thy holy name, the maintenance of true religion and justice, the honour of the Queen, and the public welfare, peace, and tranquillity of New Zealand, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Is this appropriate in a country that professes no state church and the tolerance of all religions equally?4 Religious content has historically infiltrated governing and administrative bodies. However, with the cultural disestablishment of Christianity and the emergence of toleration for all faiths, there continues to be the presence and preference of a small set of religions by the State. The degree to which religion interacts with the State varies with different public bodies. One reaction...
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...Freedom of Religion, Speech and the Press The first amendment is part of the United States Constitution in a short portion called the United States Bill of Rights. The Bill of Rights is one of the high laws of our land. “It guarantees that the United States government can never deprive people in the United States of certain fundamental rights,” according to aclu.org. The first amendment states that “congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof: or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press: or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances,” according to nccs.net. This means that us as Americans have the right to...
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...Education America established with the right to choose the religion that suited the people a right that is taken very seriously among the people of America. They escaped countries where they were forced to worship in one way. When they came to America, That freedom made America great. That freedom can also cause quite a bit of controversy in the public school system. The American public school system is not equipped to deal with the many different religions that the American families may have. The public education system has changed throughout the years as different amendments were added to the United States Constitution. This paper will examine certain cases that that have influenced the American school system. The separation of church and state in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is a separation of personal beliefs that is so different then one another and this makes religion a complicated issue for the public schools (Davis, 2003). Many significant cases have been set to change the direction of education to provide an equal education system Lau versus Nichols in 1974 under the fourteenth amendment of equal protection clause. This case under the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits federally, funded programs from discriminating of the basis of race and national origin. This law-required school districts to take affirmative steps to limit the language deficiency of students, schools should teach English as a second language and not there...
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...A very controversial widespread issue today is the right to have prayer in public schools. The proposed amendment reads: "To secure the people's right to acknowledge God according to the dictates of conscience. The people's rights to pray and to recognize their belief, heritage or traditions on public property, shall not be infringed. The government shall not require any person to join in the prayer or religious activity, initiate or designate school prayers, discriminate against any religion, or deny equal access to benefit on account of religion. (AVSP)" This would permit but not mandate school prayer. I think that the government should be focused on the school's academics, not what religion they are to study. The proposed amendments would cause nothing but trouble considering that there would be many arguments on what beliefs should be taught. Religion is private and schools are public. Having any prayer in school goes against the basis in which our country was formed upon. America came into being because colonists wanted religious freedom. Our founding fathers carefully wrote the constitution to grant the freedom of separation of church and state. A prayer created and supported by a government violate the very essence of the spirit in which the US was formed. (Haas35) Therefore, having a prayer in school would be unconstitutional. "A radical school prayer amendment would attack the heart and soul of the bill of rights which safeguards the rights of the individual...
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...Abstract As controversial as it is, official practice of religion in state funded institutions is illegal. According to the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, the Free Establishment Clause says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” As citizens of this great nation, we have the liberty to practice whatever religion we may choose, just as long as the church and the state are separate. There is no greater organization to complicate this issue than the public school system. Children are young and naive and can become impressed by anything that sounds credible. Giving those kids a reason to think one religion is superior to another on the government’s watch is unacceptable, and while I do believe it is important for everyone to have their own religious background, the public school system is not the place for that purpose. A school is the best place for kids the same age to gather and meet new friends. Students with the same hobbies, likes, and beliefs will generally hang out together. The community cannot expect every single person to go to the same religious institution, so it is possible students lead their own practice at school. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes, FCA, “have been on campuses around the world since 1966, and student-athletes lead the campus ministry” (fca.org). I think it is wonderful students take charge in their own practices and that will not cease anytime...
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...The decision of the United States Supreme Court in the case of Wisconsin v. Yoder was a significant statement for both public education and religious freedom. In terms of religious freedom, the requirement of the government to present a compelling reason to deny exercise of religious beliefs was reaffirmed. Meanwhile, public education continued to be presented as optional, provided that the objecting parents could present an adequate alternative for the education of their children. The case of Wisconsin v. Yoder began with the conviction of three Amish parents for refusing to send their children to public school after the eighth grade when Wisconsin law required attendance until the age of 16. The case underwent a series of appeals until it reached the United States Supreme Court in 1972. The state’s argument was based on an equal application of its role as parens patriae, which gives the government the right to act on behalf of children against abusive or neglectful parents. They argued that depriving the children of public education was...
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