Clearly, not every American will be happy when a decision about politics or religion is made. One ruling or specific law concerning religion will never please everyone when there is such a variety of personal opinions and views within our great American melting pot.
For years now our public schools have provide a “moment of silence” for students to pray, meditate, or basically do with as they choose providing they are quiet. The January 2009 article titled “Religion in Schools Debate Heats Up” brings about a whole new argument. The fact that the Illinois family that is noted within the article has taken issue with the practice of the moment of silence is beyond me. I can certainly understand then having a problem with it or feeling as though their constitutional rights were being violated if the students were forced to recognize a specific higher being or pray. It seems that this could have been easily dealt with and that a court hearing could have been avoided. If the child does not want to participate in the quiet time, then possibly she could have excused herself to the restroom during this time. Typically following the moment of silence is the Pledge of Allegiance. I think that it would be safe to say that if the family feels this strongly about the moment of silence, they likely are in protest of the Pledge of Allegiance as well. Seems simple enough, if she excuses herself before the moment of silence, she could return after the pledge to our country’s flag (which honors God).
Speaking of the Pledge of Allegiance, I was not aware of the 1943 Supreme Court ruling that allowed for a choice when it came to saluting our flag and reciting the Pledge. I knew that some students did not participate, specifically Jehovah’s Witnesses, but prior to reading about the Gobitas family, I did not know the history behind the provisions made for those students.
As for the other uproar mentioned in the “Religion in Schools Debate Heats Up” article, this business of rewriting Texas curriculum due to language used when discussing scientific theories (specifically evolution) is ridiculous! The current wording allows for some guided debate and allows to students to collect data, evaluate it, and then form their own opinions. Is this not what we want out of our students? Critical thinking? Do we want to produce a generation of children who automatically believe everything that society tells them? What is science about anyway? Don’t scientists always question, debate, and tests theories on a daily basis? Why not do the same with creation?
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Does a moment of silence not imply that the school is in support of religious activities and by having it in the morning is that fare to Muslim or Jewish children that pray in the evening? Would it affect the education of students if there was no moment of silence?
ReplyDeleteOf course I do not think that a student's education would be affected by removing the moment of silence. Other than from a historical stand point, it also would not be affected if we removed the Pledge of Alligeince, but I would hate to see that go!
ReplyDeleteI certainly don't think that there is anything prohibiting the Muslim or Jewish students from taking their own 'moment' at whatever given time.
Maybe we can think about the "hidden" curriculum and all types of "attitudes" that are "taught" through "incidental" means. Having or not having a moment of silence probably does impact the students' "education" in some manner. Remember your philosophy of life influences your philosophy of teaching.
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