i had a rather intense argument with a friend online over the issue of allowing religion in schools. for those familiar with these arguments, they usually revolve around either the concept of teaching values (moral development enforced at a public level) or the concept of keeping 'truth' in the schools instead of 'lies'. the world is an interesting place, but rather than try to argue the validity of either of these points, i want to give a social argument for not allowing religion in schools by focusing on four points: (1) preserving the sanctity of science; (2) the bias of christianity in schools prior to this time; (3) the effects of returning religion to the schools; and (4) real social reasons that taking the bible out of schools did not cause to effect.
preserving the sanctity of science
religion in schools leads to a skewed view of science. there are too many instances where science is disrupted by religious activists in school where evolution is being taught. right wing christians spend too much time trying to denounce evolution in schools rather than trying to understand it. what we want the public to provide for our children is an unbiased view of the world. granted, there are many feminist and postmodern thinkers that see no 'pure' version of science, but i believe that is more in social bias and not practice. observation, gathering data, proposing and testing hypotheses - these things lead to verifiable, current scientific data. if parents wish to deliver a contrary message, say concerning evolution vs. creationism, that is up to the parents to perform. sorry, parents, you actually have to take responsibility here. but i would advise knowing your 'enemy' before saying that you should believe something because that's the way it is.
christian bias
the reason the bible was taken out of the schools was for two reasons. first, a separation of church and state is necessary as one of the main liberties of our country. you will not, in any sense of the word, allow religion to dictate how the government should run. otherwise, religious freedom is negated. second, there was an incredible bias toward christianity and against other religions. someone who is buddhist in a public school has no wish to hear about 'creation science', nor does someone who is muslim wish to hear about only taking one partner for life. this being taught to children is brainwashing, and teaching values that are up to the parents to define and set out for the children. law and morality are rarely together.
social effect of returning religion
the reason the bible should not be allowed back into school is that it leave open all sorts of other religious teaching to be brought in. would you approve of a wiccan high school teacher teaching your kids as an aside about how there is a dualistic concept of god in english, or pervading the readings with new age novels for discussion? how about allowing students to gather in the name of satan and skin some cats in front of everyone else? or perhaps it would make perfect sense to allow scientology into the schools so that students can be taught about this so-called religion as well? you can't pick and choose what religion comes back in. therefore, all religion should be kept out.
social myths about the removal of the bible from school
the statistics quoted concerning teen pregnancy, drug use, etc... have very little to do the bible being taken out of schools. you cannot say that one event has led to why students outside of school participate in the behaviors that they do. it shows two things. one, that parents do not keep a good watch over their children in how they raise and punish them. don't blame legislators failing when it is blamed on the parents. two, it is the entire marketing and media driven to promoting sex and violence that causes teens to act as they will. couple that with a socialogical trend toward too much television watching and not enough family building, and then you have something to show for the increase of pregnancy, rape, drug use, what have you... not some insignificant event like taking a book out of an institution.
final comments
in closing, i want to make very clear that i am not knocking the use of the bible nor the concept of 'prayer' in schools. i do think it is ludicrous to not allow school space to be used after hours for bible study, religious support groups, etc. these things are things done without forcing things down others throats. there is a lot of great poetry to be found in the bible, and even a few decent stories from a literature perspective. i think the consequentialist argument concerning the lack of religious teaching in the schools is a weak one, and that the problem has advanced to a degree that has no compromise until this country becomes a religious state. therefore, i opt for religion to not be allowed in schools. remember, parents, there are religious schools out there to send your children to if you want that kind of education. but for a public institution, we must keep religion out for all the reasons i list above.
