Pushing religion in the classroom
Andrew Browning
Issue date: 10/8/07 Section: Opinion
PrintEmail DoubleClick Any Word Page 1 of 1 In August 2007, Gov. Rick Perry, from the always-newsworthy state of Texas, signed a bill called the Religious Viewpoints Anti-Discrimination Act. According to the National School Board Association, the bill requires public school boards to adopt a policy allowing students a limited forum to air their religious viewpoints, and it also prohibits discriminating against students for expressing religious views in their homework or other assignments.

This bill is just like the teaching of intelligent design in that it is the most recent attempt to bring organized religion back into the public school system, where it does not belong.

A fundamental question needs to be answered when discussing the controversial topic of separation of church and state: Why are Americans so fervent about finding ways to push a pro-religion curriculum in the school system? There are many reasons. Some stem from general insecurities about their own beliefs, while others believe that God is the only answer to the growing list of social problems in America. Whatever the reasoning, it crosses the boundary of separation of church and state and may violate the rights of students who are not religious.

Being able to express your religious beliefs is a wonderful thing many Americans do with great passion. But with the increasing xenophobia of our country, I have a feeling that the ones who fought to get this bill passed would find something wrong with a group of Muslim Americans holding morning prayers in the grass in front of the school. I can only imagine what the Texans would have to say about that.

If Americans kept their viewpoints to themselves and practiced religion in their homes and at their respective places of worship, this would not even be an issue. For some reason or another, many Americans feel the need to proselytize non-believers. Instead of letting people make up their own minds and come to a conclusion that makes sense to them about God and spirituality, Americans tend to choose the grass is greener on our side philosophy and continually try and convert everyone to their specific way of thinking.

What does this bill actually guarantee anyway? It doesn\'t assure anything that is not already certain. It was a waste of taxpayer money to pass this bill.

Of all the things that I see at school, religion is something that is accepted. I cannot remember a time when someone who was Catholic was told to leave the classroom because they had just participated in Ash Wednesday. We act like kids who are religious are going to school and being persecuted for their beliefs, when in actuality it is most likely the opposite.

There are other places where people can practice religion; it does not need to be in public schools. The Religious Viewpoints Anti-Discrimination Act is yet another attempt to bridge the gap between separation of church and state.

The church and the state were separated for a reason; there is education, and there is religion. People go to school to get an education. They go to church to be spiritual and learn about God. That is how it should stay.

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