The recent controversy over the President's speech to schoolchildren indicates once again that public schools have become lightning rods for many people and a target for criticism and attack. There is a good number of individuals who very sincerely link public schools to the breakdown of this society and with creating a culture that is secular and antireligious.
As someone who has worked in public education for 21 years, I look at this differently! Many of my colleagues are committed believers and active participants in their places of worship. Actually, some of the most devout folks I know work in public schools and my experience has been that those who do not participate in religious activities are most respectful of those who do.
However, there IS a limit to what public schools can do and parameters in which they must operate. The First Amendment of our Bill of Rights prohibits anything resembling the establishment of a particular religion. Public schools must insure that the rights of ALL students and teachers are protected and public school leaders must always be cognizant of the fact that the schools they run are different from the churches, synagogues or mosques they may attend. Of necessity, their goals must be different!
One area in which public schools generally need to shore up however is in the academic study of religion. Religious illiteracy really hurts the study of history, culture and litearture and many schools don't offer educational opportunities for students to understand what religions really stand for and how understanding their particular history and doctrines can be valuable in our awareness of the world!
As we have seen with the outcry over President Obama's speech, public schools have a daunting task. It's important to take a serious look at our history and thus understand the inherent limitations under which they must operate.
PB
4 comments:
This is a tough one. First I must say as a parent that I do think that our public schools are doing a good job educating our youth not only in the basics but also in character education and values which include tolerance, respect, responsibility. Where religion fits in is a tough one. I'm not sure religion belongs in the public school system. There is still too much devisiveness within individual faith communities without beginning to consider tensions between faiths. Teaching our youth tolerance of all faiths, respect for all peoples is probably the best we can do in a pluralistic society like ours. That being said I think that more can be done within a faith community to educate our youth and between faith communities. But the adults and leaders need to get on the same page first. We still have a long way to go but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be trying.
I agree with you re faith communities....
I just also think that good academics requires good working knowledge of the religions that have shaped culture---
PB
Actually this is something I am very interested in exploring. I think we have done religion a huge injustice by excluding meaningful dialogue from the public sector. We have severly misinterpreted the separation of religion and state and ironically with movements like the "family" you brought up earlier that division is becoming more blurred and we are in danger of mixing politics with a brand of religion that quite frankly I find scary. But....open minded dialogue is very difficult... especially when some of the most closed minded find identity and security within the framework of religion....I can only think about the debate of teaching evoloutionary theory in public schools. Imagine the reaction of some people when we have to give equal time to all of religious ways of life- not only the abrhahamic faiths but hinduism, buddhism... yikes! I can see why public schools would want to avoid the whole conundrum alltogether. but if you are interested I would be interested in hearing your ideas as to how this best could be done.
There are some interseting projects going on around the topic of religion and public schools.
You may want to google the First Amendment Center and check the links on RELIGIOUS LIBERTY---
Good material....
PB
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