Cultural Identifiers Topic Essay Colleen Stear
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Cultural Identifiers Topic Essay
Colleen Stear
EDU-330 Social Justice in Education
Professor Larena Barnett
June 10, 2023
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Cultural Identifiers Topic Essay
Controversial Topics and Identifier
There are two sides to the topic of prayer in school, you believe prayer belongs in school or you believe prayer doesn’t belong in schools. This has been a controversial topic for many years. Even more now than in past years. Students can still pray in school if it’s on their own time, and they aren’t infringing on anyone else. Social justice in education means acknowledging and acting upon the power that we have for making positive change. Connecting to students lives by building relationships with students. Getting to know them and actively acknowledging and showing they bring value to your classroom. Prayer in schools can build those connections. I chose this topic because prayer is very important to me and my walk with the Lord. It has gotten me through some very difficult times in my life. Historical Events
Since the 1960 prayer in school has been perceived by religious conservatives to be diminishing (Issues & Controversies, 2022). There are many historical events that have considerably affected prayers in school. Engel v. Vitale (1962) was a case where the Supreme Court ruled that school sponsored prayer in public schools violated the establishment clause of the First Amendment. Supreme Court set the standard that organized or sponsored activities involving prayer by a public school are not permitted (Unnid, 2023). This is not limited to just teachers it goes for students too. The court prohibited school sponsored prayers. Relation to K-12
There are four components in social justice education. First, teachers intentionally include curriculum that encourages students to work for fairness both in and outside the
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Cultural Identifiers Topic Essay
classroom. Second, provide all students with resources essential to learn to their full potential. Include resources that contain your student’s language, cultures, and experiences. This means emotional resources too, including safe from discrimination. Third, drawing on the talents and strengths that each student brings to the classroom. Last, component is creating an environment that promotes critical thinking (Nieto & Bode, 2017). Creating your classroom as a family sharing our ideas with each other and listening to others’ ideas. Supporting each other and being honest with each other like families. Children being able to come to their teachers when they need that prayer of encouragement. Being able to talk about their beliefs in the classroom. Identifying their religion is part of social justice in education. Prayer in schools allows for experience to other religions. Learning about other cultures can be so beneficial to students. This could help children become
mindful of different cultures that they may not encounter otherwise. Current Opinions and the Effects
Removal of prayer in school in the 1960 was the start of a downward spiral of our schools and country. When people are not given the right to pray this can influence student’s spiritual lives and the communities. It is our job as a teacher to teach a balanced learning curriculum. How can this happen when they are forbidden from teaching prayer but must teach
evolution which is an opinion of someone’s (Issues & Controversies, 2022). Some could say that prayer in school could change the purpose of going to school for some students. While voluntary prayer is legal if it’s non-disruptive, allowing schools to perform the duties of a religion some would say could change why kids go to school (Editor in Chief, 2019).
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Cultural Identifiers Topic Essay
Implemented Policies or Methods Teachers, Coaches, and Princpals are not permitted to initiate a prayer group, but students can start a school club that connects them with others that share a similar faith. This can consist of prays, meeting, and bible students before or after school. One student organized prayer gathering that is nationwide is See You at the Pole. See You at the Pole is an annual national gathering at local school flagpoles on the fourth Wednesday in September for students
to pray for their schools, friends, teachers, government, and nation (Fitschen, 2018). Conclusion
Whether you agree or disagree if prayer should belong in school, prayer starts with in the home. Parents can be building those foundations at home, so students will be much better off when it comes to controversial topics throughout their lives. We all can build those firm foundations even if we aren’t allowed to speak openly about our faith.
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Cultural Identifiers Topic Essay
Reference:
Editor in Chief. (2019, October 11).
19 big pros and cons of prayer in schools
. ConnectUS.
https://connectusfund.org/19-big-pros-and-cons-of-prayer-in-schools
Fitschen,
S. (2018, February 7).
See you at the pole: Your right to participate
. National Legal Foundation.
https://nationallegalfoundation.org/issue-resources/elementary-students-and-
teachers-right-to-participate-in-see-you-at-the-pole/
Nieto, S., & Bode, P. (2017). Affirming diversity
(7th ed.). Pearson Education. Issues & Controversies. (2022, July 7).
Religion in Public Schools
.
https://icof-infobase-
com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/articles/QXJ0aWNsZVRleHQ6MTY1MDA%3D?
articleType=PRO_CON_ARTICLE#main
.
Uddin, A. (2023, February 15).
Prayer in school: What’s protected?
Freedom Forum.
https://www.freedomforum.org/prayer-in-school/
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Cultural Identifiers Topic Essay
Part 2
Issues & Controversies. (2022, July 7).
Religion in Public Schools
.
https://icof-infobase-
com.lopes.idm.oclc.org/articles/QXJ0aWNsZVRleHQ6MTY1MDA%3D?
articleType=PRO_CON_ARTICLE#main
.
This article talks about historical parts of Religion in public school. Whether prayer should be playing a role in public school, or it shouldn’t. It also talks about how Religion has played a role in American culture for many centuries, but also there are people who passionately debate how much of a role it should play. DeRose,
J. (2023, May 16).
The Department of Education updates guidance on public school prayer
. NPR Illinois.
https://www.nprillinois.org/2023-05-16/the-department-of-
education-updates-guidance-on-public-school-prayer
This article talks about how the U.S. Department of Education has issued an updated guidance on prayer and other religious expressions in public schools. The guidance says that teachers are allowed to engage in private prayer during their workday but cannot encourage students to join in. Editor in Chief. (2019, October 11).
19 big pros and cons of prayer in schools
. ConnectUS.
https://connectusfund.org/19-big-pros-and-cons-of-prayer-in-schools
This article has some pros and cons of prayer in school. They make some good points of both sides in this article. Like prayer sets a standard of personal conduct for people to follow. It gives students to come together and share their faith. Could change the purpose of school and what students would learn.
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Cultural Identifiers Topic Essay