Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

1011.0. "Teaching of Morality in Public Schools" by LGP30::FLEISCHER (without vision the people perish (DTN 297-5780, MRO3-3/L16)) Tue Nov 29 1994 09:49

        I've been meaning to start a topic on religion and morality
        in public schools, and the posting of a news article (see
        below) in another conference has prompted me to finally do
        it.

        I am particularly interested in how teaching of ethics and
        morals can be accomplished in a public setting acceptable to
        a pluralistic society.

        It would seem that when the U.S. was founded, although the
        Bill of Rights established the principle of religious
        neutrality as far as the government was concerned, that our
        society was not in fact that diverse -- the citizenry
        represented a plurality of mostly mainstream European
        Christian denominations, not the far greater diversity we see
        today.

        Back then it was acceptable (to the vast majority) to apply a
        secularization of Euro-Christian morality as long as no
        denomination's teachings were favored.  (I have no doubt that
        the founding of Catholic private schools was driven by a
        realization that this denomination-neutrality was less than
        perfect.)

        What would be acceptable today?

        Bob

                                +++++++++++
    AP 28 Nov 94 18:16 EST V0472
 
    Copyright 1994. The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
 
    WASHINGTON (AP) -- Religion can be addressed in public schools without 
    imposing beliefs or sterilizing the classroom of religious references,
    says a  private group that focuses on First Amendment rights. 
    
    "There's a rising distrust in America about our public schools," said 
    Charles Haynes, editor of "Finding Common Ground: A First Amendment
    Guide to  Religion and Public Education," which was released Monday by
    The Freedom  Forum. 
    
    "Many parents believe public schools are places hostile to their values
    and  their faith," Haynes said. The guide for schools and community
    leaders is  designed to reverse that trend without violating individual
    rights. 
  
    "We have, I think, allowed the extremes to dominate the debate" about 
    religion in schools, Haynes said. "Most people, I think, understand
    that there  is a middle ground, a common-sense approach to the role of
    religion in  education." 
    
    The guide, a compilation of reports and lists, recommends that
    educators  draw critics into a search for "common ground" in setting
    guidelines for  schools, and gives examples of policies adopted in
    various school districts. 
                              
    It recommends teaching about religion as an important aspect of history 
    without promoting any faith, and teaching about the meaning of
    religious  holidays. 
    
    The guide also provides lists of organizations and resources for
    teaching  about religion and "character education" as well as a list of
    diet, medical  and clothing restrictions and observances related to
    various religions that  might affect students during school. 
    
    "What we do is lay out First Amendment ground rules for handling these 
    issues, and we give strategies for taking religion seriously and, at
    the same  time, protecting the consciousness of every parent and
    student," Haynes said. 
    
    The First Amendment protects the religious rights of students,
    including  the right to pray and speak religiously in the classroom,
    Haynes said. 

    I believe that teaching about religion and morality is easy for those
    who can embrace multi-culturalism.
    
    It is important for a teacher to foster a respect for all people.  All
    students learn history and Geography and World Cultures.  It is
    impossible to study any of those without discussing religion.  The
    discussions have to be neutral though and teachers with a strong sense
    of the superiority of one religion to another may have difficulty with
    that.
    
    I do not believe that education should be value neutral though.  There
    are many universal values that should be fostered in the schools. 
    Love, respect, tolerance, kindness, aceptance, the worth and dignity of
    every person.  Schools actually do a good job in introducing and
    attempting to teach these things.  Unfortunately, the children
    themselves exclude others and bring their own prejudices into the
    classroom.
    
    Any parent who wants their children to have a specific religious
    education as part of their child's schooling, then needs to send their
    child to a religious oriented school.  School's should not be the place
    where children are indoctrinated against the wishes and desired of
    their parents.  Any religions that feel it is important for children to
    receive a religious based education should provide for all children
    desiring that education  to be able to attend its schools.
    
                                           Patricia

	Hi!

	It may interest some of you to know that, in Austria, religious
	education is compulsory and that exception is only made on an
	indivudual basis, on parental demand.

	For the juniour school, learning is exclusively Roman Catholic
	but is allowed to broaden into other faith systems from age 11
	onward to age 16, after which religious education is provided
    	but on a voluntary attendance basis.

	It is law that, in every classroom, (and on the judges bench in
	the law-courts, and all public offices) a crucifix will be
    	prominently displayed.

	Some Ministers of Education in the past have also decreed that a
	portrait of the current Pope will hang in the common room, along
	with that of the Austrian president (which, by law, must hang there
    	and in the director's office).

	Greetings, Derek.