“How much about religion is appropriate in the

public school curriculum?”

Unit Questions

What effect should a student’s religious beliefs have on what that student is required to learn regarding religion?

Who should make the decision regarding what religious theologies the students should learn?

Should parents have a voice in whether or not religion should be taught in school?

Steven G. Humphries

ED 503: Instructional Technology

Mississippi University for WomenDr. Holden, Instructor

Overview

A) Religious Tolerance/ Ignorance

B) Arguments to why public education should include religious ideals

C) Teaching about religion

D) Guidelines on religion in public schools

E) Quotes promoting religious tolerance

Religious Tolerance/ Ignorance

Tolerance: to follow other religions w/o discrimination

Religious tolerance: fundamental right in democracy

Noble goal, necessary for world peace

Ignorance: leads to intolerance, bigotry, violence

Ignorance: leads legislation to prefer particular religions

Religion can be incorporated into different school subjects

Religious Tolerance*

Arguments to why Public Education should include religious ideals

Important to religious people

Aids pupil development into liberal democracies

Adult pupil development advanced by religion

Religious ideals give Christians their identity

Sunday isn’t only day for religion

Religious tolerance is forced; violence decreases

Teaching About Religion

Church & state don’t prohibit teaching

States strive to understand religious

traditions Neither promotes nor

detracts from ideology Teachers may neither encourage nor discourage

Public schools may teach about holidays

May teach how religion shaped the U.S.

Guidelines on Religion in the Schools

Students may pray individually or collectively

Prayer can’t be mandated at certain ceremonies

Students can express beliefs in assignments

Students can distribute religious literature

Students can opt-out of activities

The Equal Access Act

“Quotes” Promoting Religious Tolerance

"Religious tolerance is not religious indifference. It consists of valuing the right of another person to hold beliefs that you know absolutely, and without a doubt, to be wrong.“ ANONYMOUS

"Religious tolerance means to refrain from discriminating against others who follow a different religious path. Tolerance is more difficult to maintain when you know that your religion is true and their

religion is wrong.“ ANONYMOUS

Summary

Religion helps students learn tolerance.

The world will be a better place.

Opens students to different societal beliefs.

Students learn the history of the U.S.

Promotes harmony, peace, & economic progress

Allows students to think critically

“Let’s Praise Him in the schools……”