religion and edcation
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Grand Canyon University *
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SPD 521-05
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Arts Humanities
Date
Feb 20, 2024
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docx
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6
Uploaded by PresidentBoulder11008
Melissa Lively
Education and Religion
Grand Canyon University
SPD-500
U.S. and Arizona Constitutions for Teacher Candidates
Professor John Woolard
12/06/2023
Religion in public schools has long been a topic of discussion. Everyone, including students in public schools, is guaranteed the right to free expression under the First Amendment of the US Constitution. Suppose I gave my students the task of writing an essay and creating a picture to go with it.
One of my students made the decision to attach a drawing of the Last Supper to an essay she wrote about Jesus. The student was free to decide whether to write an essay on Jesus. In the assigned work, they were incorporating their own personal religious convictions. Laws mandate that educators and administrators uphold objectivity, respect, and allow for students' expressions of religion, and distribute assignments fairly. One of the main objectives in any classroom is to make sure that every student feels that We appreciate and recognize their thoughts and contributions. There was nothing illegal done by the student who chose to write her essay about Jesus. She was merely supplementing her teacher's assignments with her personal religious beliefs. As a sign of respect and tolerance, educators and administrators should take a neutral stance, permit students to practice their faith, and assign homework that is based on it. Creating in every student a sense that their work matters and that their opinions are valued and heard is one of the primary objectives of any classroom. I will address each of these concerns in brief. In the domains of education and religion, the First Amendment is examined through case studies. The US Department of Education published guidelines to aid teachers, administrators, and staff in understanding the constitutional rights and viewpoints of their students.
Regardless of the religious foundation of their beliefs, students are free to express their opinions
through their coursework, artwork, and other written and oral projects. Students are free to voice their opinions through assignments, artwork, and other written and oral projects, regardless of the religious nature of their beliefs. "Congress shall make no law...prohibiting the free exercise (of religion) pertaining
to the First Amendment," asserts Mullally. The freedom to freely practice one's religion is safeguarded
by the free-exercise clause (Mullally, 2011). Teachers are supposed to grade assignments fairly and impartially, even when students choose the topic of their choice. The teacher might or might not exhibit the student's drawing of the Last Supper, though. Ten Commandments were posted on the walls of every classroom, according to the public school's argument
in the 1980 court case Stone v. Graham. "Because of the religious content, this action violated the establishment clause of the First Amendment" (Stone v. Graham 1980). A particular poster for the Peck v. Baldwinsville Central School District case was made by a kindergarten student.. The student drew a picture about conservation and preservation of natural resources rather than one of Jesus saving the world. The student was asked to redo the poster, but it was rejected because it did not make sense for the assignment This met with approval (Harpaz, 2007). There is no reason why a topic or subject cannot be graded fairly as long as it is relevant to the requirements that have been assigned.
The ACLU states that while religion may be discussed in literature, history, and philosophy classes, it is not permitted to be covered in the curriculum (ACLU, 2019). Any school that discusses the unconstitutionality of teaching religion can be found. The educator in Settle v. Dickson County School Board, (6th Cir. 1995), dismissed the student's presentation on Jesus Christ. and the teacher also gave the student a failing grade. Any topic could be chosen by the students as long as they completed the necessary research. The teacher thought that the research paper was inappropriate given its content, even though the student followed instructions. Following the appeal, the teacher continued to violate the students' First Amendment rights to free speech. Our democratic government is required by the First Amendment to uphold objectivity when it comes to religious matters.
Even though religion is not intended for instruction or discussed in the classroom, the teacher failed to assign a fair grade to the student's assignment based on its content. As was already mentioned,
there are still heated debates concerning religion in modern times. However, that does not alter the fact
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that students are able to express themselves however they see fit if it complies with the assignment guidelines. Since public schools are ran financially by the government, they must uphold the First Amendment. Because public schools receive government funding, they are required by law to protect the First Amendment. If this is not done, then the people's constitutional rights are being violated.
References
ACLU (2019). Your Rights to Religious Freedom. www.aclu.org/other/your-right-religious-freedom.com
First Amendment | Browse | Constitution annotated | congress.gov ... (n.d.). https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/amendment-1
Harpaz, L (2007). Beyond the Schoolhouse Gate: Do Student First Amendment Rights Apply to Classroom Assignments? digitalcommons.law.wne.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1085&context=facschol
Mullally, C. (2011). Free-Exercise Clause Overview. Freedom Forum Institute. September 16, 2011. www.freedomforuminstitute.org/first-amendment.com
Settle v. Dickson County School Board, 53 F.3d 152 (6th Cir. 1995). caselaw.findlaw.com/us-6th-circuit/1086350.html
Stone v. Graham 449 U.S. 39 (1980). https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/449/39
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