Faith in Schools

The concept of “division of church and state” is getting drowned out by what people believe and how everyone feels they are right. Years ago, we developed this concept to let all children attend schools regardless of religious background. With the exception of private schools, we need to let this resurface and we need to use it to our advantage. People are fighting to remove prayer, bibles, and the word god from public school. However, no one is bringing up the US Constitution and the First Amendment. Most people think of the 1st amendment and automatically think of freedom of speech and yes, that’s right. But the fully understand the whole amendment we need take it as it is written.

“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.” By stating that congress can’t make a law that pertains only to one religion or favors a religion, we need to follow that through and amend public school systems. In the views of some, public schools in the United States favor Christian based religions, this isn’t outright on paper or documented. Though, the proof is in the education system. Students stand at the beginning of class to say the Pledge of Allegiance. It clearly states “One nation under god.” This statement is not something that children should hear in a public school.

Some teachers will say that the children don’t have to say the Pledge with the rest of the students as long as the school is aware of the student’s religious beliefs. Some will even go to say that students don’t have to say god but they have to say the rest. Some families practice Wiccan, Paganism, Satanism, or Hindu, it is none of the school’s business what religion and beliefs a home has. It doesn’t jeopardize the mental learning abilities of child. We need to go back to the Bill of Rights written in 1791 when there were much fewer religions but our country’s leaders could see that not everyone has to believe what one group believes. Separation of church and state needs to be instilled in American public schools. It’s our Constitutional right as Americans. Our kids need their education and schooling, but we need to leave the religious aspects of life to the parents. Protect the rights that we were given.