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Religion News Blog Archives
Religion News Blog posts insightful comments on the latest international news that render us taken-aback in the domain of the religion facet of life. Religion News Blog: Religion-in-Schools News 1 Lawmakers clarify religion in schools rights: August 10, 2007 by Shelley Stoll
Texas Association of School Boards Despite early indicators that the 80th regular session of the Texas Legislature would be relatively quiet on the education front, a flurry of activity resulted in the passage of some hefty education-related bills. Following is an overview of one piece of legislation that could have interesting consequences for school districts. Permission to reprint this article is granted by the Texas Association of School Boards with attribution. Religion News Blog: Religion in Schools News 1 (Continued) The topic of religion in public schools received a great deal of attention during the recent Texas legislative session. Whenever that emotional topic is part of a public debate, we are likely to hear some people claim that courts have “kicked religion out of school.” In fact, the expression of religious viewpoints is still very much permitted in public schools. The United States Constitution protects the right of individual students to express personal religious viewpoints. School districts, however, cannot endorse religious views or establish a preference for or against religion. In the words of the United States Supreme Court, “There is a crucial difference between government speech endorsing religion, which the Establishment Clause forbids, and private speech endorsing religion, which the Free Speech and Free Exercise Clauses protect.” Religion News Blog: Religion in Schools News 1 (Continued) Both the constitutionally protected freedom of individuals to express their own private religious views and the prohibition on government-endorsed messages for or against religion work together to offer Americans the greatest possible religious liberty. Nowhere is that powerful balance more dynamic than in our public schools, where the interests of students, parents, religious and community leaders, and school officials intersect. The freedom of individual students to express their own religious views in private conversations and to pray alone or in groups is well established. Questions remain, however, about students’ rights to express their individual views or pray when they are speaking publicly at school-sponsored events. Hoping to clarify this point, the Texas Legislature has passed a new law about student religious expression. House Bill 3678, also called the Religious Viewpoints Antidiscrimination Act (RVAA), addresses four general areas: freedom of religious expression, student speakers, religious expression in class assignments, and freedom of association. The RVAA takes effect with the 2007-2008 school year. Religion News Blog: Religion in Schools News 1 (Continued) No viewpoint discrimination: The law requires districts to treat a student’s voluntary expression of a religious viewpoint on an otherwise permissible subject in the same manner the district treats a student’s voluntary expression of a secular or other viewpoint on the same topic.2 This section prohibits discrimination against a student based on the student’s religious viewpoint. Expression in class assignments: The law states that students may express their beliefs about religion in homework, artwork, and other written and oral assignments. Homework and other assignments must be judged by ordinary academic standards of substance and relevance and against other legitimate pedagogical concerns identified by the district. Districts may not penalize or reward students based on the religious content of their work.4 Freedom of association: The law states that students may organize prayer groups, religious clubs, “see you at the pole” gatherings, and other religious gatherings before, during, and after school to the same extent that students are permitted to organize other noncurricular student activities and groups. Districts must give religious groups the same acces to facilities as given to other noncurricular groups. Religion News Blog Comment: Should education be based on faith or should it be based on knowledge? Faith is only where there is a hole in knowledge. When one knows a thing, one doesn't need believing it any more. "Do you believe it?" - I ask you. "No, I know it. Why believe, then?" - you reply. Religion means a faith in the supernatural, simply because we are ignorant about it. Should we teach ignorance in the name of education by teaching religion in schools? 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