BUKU | SAIDNA ZULFIQAR BIN TAHIR (VIKAR)
7
C H A P T E R
Religion in the Public
School Curriculum
FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE
UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
7
Religion in t he Public School Curriculum:
Quest ions and Answ ers is sponsored joint ly by:
American Academy of Religion
American Associat ion of School Administ rat ors
American Federat ion of Teachers
American Jew ish Congress
Americans Unit ed Research Foundat ion
Associat ion f or Supervision and Curriculum Development
Bapt ist Joint Commit t ee on Public Aff airs
Christ ian Legal Societ y
The Church of Jesus Christ of Lat t er-day Saint s
First Amendment Cent er
The Islamic Societ y of Nort h America
Nat ional Associat ion of Evangelicals
Nat ional Conf erence of Communit y and Just ice
Nat ional Council of Churches of Christ in t he USA
Nat ional Council f or t he Social St udies
Nat ional Educat ion Associat ion
Nat ional School Boards Associat ion
Religion in t he Public School Curriculum
Growing numbers of people in the United States think it is
important to teach about religion in the public schools.1
But what is the appropriate place of religion in the public- school curriculum? How does
one approach such issues as textbook content, values education, creation science and
religious holidays?
QU EST IO NS and ANSW ERS:
RELIGIO N IN T H E P U BLIC
SC H O O L C U RRIC U LU M
T he following questions and answers are designed to assist school boards as they make
decisions about the curriculum and educators as they teach about religion in ways that are
constitutionally permissible, educationally sound, and sensitive to the beliefs of students
and parents.
Is it const it ut ional t o t each about religion in public schools?
Yes. In the 1960s school-prayer cases (that prompted rulings against state-sponsored school
prayer and Bible reading), the U.S. Supreme Court indicated that public school education
may include teaching about religion. In Abington v. Schempp, Associate Justice Tom Clark
wrote for the Court:
[I]t might well be said that one’s education is not complete without a study of
comparative religion or the history of religion and its relationship to the
advancement of civilization. It certainly may be said that the Bible is worthy of study
for its literary and historic qualities. Nothing we have said here indicates that such
study of the Bible or of religion, when presented objectively as part of a secular
program of education, may not be effected consistently with the First Amendment.
1
“Teaching about religion” includes consideration of the beliefs and practices of religions; the role of religion in history and
contemporary society; and religious themes in music, art and literature.
89
Religion in t he Public
School Curriculum
7
Finding Com m on Ground: A Guide t o Religious Libert y in Public Schools
What is m eant by “ t eaching about
religion” in t he public schools?
T he following statements distinguish between
teaching about religion in public schools and
religious indoctrination:
1. T he school’s approach to religion is academic,
not devotional.
2. T he school may strive for student awareness of
religions, but should not press for student
acceptance of any one religion.
3. T he school may sponsor study about religion,
but may not sponsor the practice
of religion.
7
Religion in t he Public
School Curriculum
4. T he school may expose students to a diversity
of religious views, but may not impose any
particular view.
5. T he school may educate about all religions, but
may not promote or denigrate any religion.
6. T he school may inform the student about various beliefs, but should not seek to
conform him or her to any particular belief.2
Why should st udy about religion be included in t he public
school curriculum ?
Because religion plays a significant role in history and society, study about religion is
essential to understanding both the nation and the world. Omission of facts about religion
can give students the false impression that the religious life of humankind is insignificant or
unimportant. Failure to understand even the basic symbols, practices and concepts of the
various religions makes much of history, literature, art and contemporary life unintelligible.
Study about religion is also important if students are to value religious liberty, the first
freedom guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. Moreover, knowledge of the roles of religion in
the past and present promotes cross-cultural understanding essential to democracy and
world peace.
2
T his answer is based on guidelines originally published by the Public Education Religion Studies Center at Wright State University.
90
Religion in t he Public School Curriculum
Where does st udy about religion belong in t he curriculum ?
Wherever it naturally arises. On the secondary level, the social studies, literature and the arts
offer many opportunities for the inclusion of information about religions — their ideas and
themes. On the elementary level, natural opportunities arise in discussions of the family and
community life and in instruction about festivals and different cultures. Many educators
believe that integrating study about religion into existing courses is an educationally sound
way to acquaint students with the role of religion in history and society.
Religion also may be taught about in special courses or units. Some secondary schools, for
example, offer such courses as world religions, the Bible as literature, and the religious
literature of the West and of the East.
Do current t ext books t each about religion?
Rarely. Recent textbook studies conclude that most widely used textbooks largely ignore
the role of religion in history and society. For example, readers of high school U.S. history
texts learn little or nothing about the great colonial revivals, the struggles of minority
faiths, the religious motivations of immigrants, the contributions of religious groups to
many social movements, major episodes of religious intolerance, and many other
significant events of history. Education without appropriate attention to major religious
influences and themes is incomplete education.
How does t eaching about religion relat e t o t he t eaching
of values?
Teaching about religion is not the same as teaching values. T he former is objective,
academic study; the latter involves the teaching of particular ethical viewpoints or
standards of behavior.
T here are basic moral values that are recognized by the population at large (e.g., honesty,
integrity, justice, compassion). T hese values can be taught in classes through discussion,
by example and by carrying out school policies. However, teachers may not invoke
religious authority.
Public schools may teach about the various religious and nonreligious perspectives
concerning the many complex moral issues confronting society, but such perspectives must
be presented without adopting, sponsoring or denigrating one view against another.
Is it const it ut ional t o t each t he biblical account of creat ion in t he
public schools?
Some states have passed laws requiring that creationist theory based on the biblical account
be taught in the science classroom. T he courts have found these laws to be unconstitutional
on the ground that they promote a particular religious view. T he Supreme Court has
91
Religion in t he Public
School Curriculum
7
Finding Com m on Ground: A Guide t o Religious Libert y in Public Schools
acknowledged, however, that a variety
of scientific theories about origins can
be appropriately taught in the science
classroom. In Edwards v. Aguillard, the
Court stated:
[T ]eaching a variety of scientific
theories about the origins of
humankind to schoolchildren
might be validly done with the
clear secular intent of enhancing
the effectiveness of science
instruction.
7
Religion in t he Public
School Curriculum
T hough science instruction may not endorse or promote religious doctrine, the account of
creation found in various scriptures may be discussed in a religious studies class or in any
course that considers religious explanations for the origin of life.
How should religious holidays be t reat ed in t he classroom ?
Carefully. Religious holidays offer excellent opportunities to teach about religion in the
elementary and secondary schools. Recognition of and information about such holidays
should focus on the origin, history and generally agreed-upon meaning of the observances.
If the approach is objective, neither advancing nor inhibiting religion, it can foster among
students understanding and mutual respect within and beyond the local community.
92
Religion in t he Public School Curriculum
Resources
The f ollow ing resources off er excellent background mat erial f or underst anding not
only how religion has inf luenced t he past , but also how it cont inues t o inf luence
societ y t oday. Addit ional assist ance can of t en be f ound t hrough local colleges and
universit ies, w hich may provide bot h w orkshops and speakers.
Taking religion seriously in t he curriculum w ill require a commit ment by schools of
educat ion t o give t eachers more exposure t o t he st udy of religious inf luences and
appropriat e resources f or t eaching about t hese inf luences in t he public school set t ing.
Religion in Am erican Lif e - Oxf ord Universit y Press
At long last , a series of scholarly w orks on religion w rit t en f or young readers is
available. Edit ed by Yale Universit y prof essors Jon But ler and Harry St out and
published by Oxf ord Universit y Press, Religion in American Lif e is a 17-volume series
aut hored by some of t he nat ion’s leading scholars in t he f ield of religious st udies.
The series is an invaluable resource f or t eachers of junior and senior high school
st udent s. Teachers of U.S. hist ory w ill f ind all of t he volumes most usef ul, but w orld
hist ory, government and lit erat ure t eachers w ill also be able t o use many of t he
volumes in a variet y of w ays. Three chronological volumes give t he religious hist ory
of t he Unit ed St at es f rom t he colonial period t o t he present . Nine volumes cover
signif icant religious groups in America, including
Prot est ant s, Cat holics, Jew s, M uslims, Nat ive
Americans and East ern f ait hs. Four volumes
address specif ic t opics — w omen, church-st at e
issues, Af rican American religion, and immigrat ion
— t hat are of special import ance in underst anding
t he role of religion in American lif e.
Wit h t he addit ion of t hese books t o school and
classroom libraries, st udent s and t eachers w ill
have access t o scholarly w orks t hat f ill t he gaps
lef t by inadequat e t ext book t reat ment of
religion. In f act , t he chronological volumes w ould
t hemselves be excellent t ext books f or an elect ive
course on religion in America or religion in U.S.
hist ory. A t eacher’s guide, prepared by t he First
Amendment Cent er, suggest s w ays t o use t he
volumes f or supplement al reading and research
project s in hist ory and ot her courses.
For more inf ormat ion, visit Oxf ord Universit y press
at w w w.oup-usa.org.
CONTINUED
93
Religion in t he Public
School Curriculum
7
Finding Com m on Ground: A Guide t o Religious Libert y in Public Schools
On Com m on Ground (CD-ROM )
Anot her groundbreaking resource f or st udent s and t eachers is On Common
Ground: World Religions in America, a CD-ROM published in 1997 by Columbia
Universit y Press. This mult imedia resource uses t ext , primary sources, phot ographs,
music, f ilm and t he spoken w ord t o bring alive t he ext raordinary religious diversit y in
t he Unit ed St at es. Prepared by Harvard Divinit y School prof essor Diana Eck, t he CDROM draw s on t he Pluralism Project , a Harvard-based st udy t hat has document ed
America’s religious landscape.
Using t he CD-ROM , st udent s can f ind out about t he belief s and pract ices of America’s
many f ait h t radit ions. They are able t o explore t he religious diversit y of eight een cit ies
and regions of t he Unit ed St at es. Fif t een diff erent religions are represent ed, f rom t he
long-est ablished Nat ive American, Christ ian and Jew ish t radit ions t o more recent
arrivals such as Hinduism and Buddhism.
7
Religion in t he Public
School Curriculum
What is especially impressive about t his resource is it s use of document s, phot ographs,
f ilm, and music t o enable pract it ioners of each f ait h t o provide st udent s w it h some
experience of t he religion f rom t he inside. It is also not ew ort hy t hat diff erences w it hin
various t radit ions are discussed (e.g., Ort hodox and Ref orm Judaism). Even issues
debat ed w it hin various t radit ions — t he role of w omen in Islam, f or example — are
included. In short , t his is an essent ial resource f or every secondary social st udies and
lit erat ure classroom.
For more inf ormat ion, visit t he w eb sit e at
w w w.columbia.edu/cu/cup/cat alog/elect ronic/idx_cd.ht ml.
Orders can be placed at : 1-800-944-8648 (phone); 1-800-944-1844 (f ax); or Columbia
Universit y Press Order Depart ment , 136 Sout h Broadw ay, Irvingt on, NY 10533.
CONTINUED
94
Religion in t he Public School Curriculum
Taking Religion Seriously Across t he Curriculum
In Taking Religion Seriously Across t he Curriculum, Warren A. Nord and
Charles C. Haynes chart a middle course in our cult ure w ars over religion and
public educat ion – one t hat builds on a developing nat ional consensus among
educat ional and religious leaders. In Part One, Nord and Haynes explain w hy
schools should t ake religion seriously, and t hey out line t he civic, const it ut ional and
educat ional f ramew orks t hat should shape t he
t reat ment of religion in t he curriculum and classroom.
In Part Tw o, t hey explore t he major issues relat ing t o
religion in diff erent domains of t he curriculum – in
element ary educat ion and in middle- and high-school
courses in hist ory, civics, economics, lit erat ure and t he
sciences. They also discuss Bible courses and w orld
religions courses, and t hey explore t he relat ionship of
religion t o moral educat ion and sex educat ion. The
result is a book t hat is unique in t he scope of it s
considerat ion of t he relevance of religion across t he
curriculum.
This book is available f rom: Associat ion f or Supervision
and Curriculum Development , w w w.ascd.org.
The Bible & Public Schools: A First Am endm ent Guide
The First Amendment Cent er and t he Bible Lit eracy Project joint ly published t hese
First Amendment guidelines f or t eachers on t he appropriat e role of t he Bible in t he
public school curriculum. This guide is endorsed by a w ide array of organizat ions,
ranging f rom t he People f or t he American Way Foundat ion and t he American
Jew ish Congress t o t he Christ ian Legal Societ y and
t he Nat ional Associat ion of Evangelicals. The
guide is based on a quest ion-and-answ er f ormat
addressing such issues as w het her t he Bible can be
t aught in public schools, met hods and approaches
t hat are const it ut ional, and w hat t he court s have
said about t he subject .
This guide is available online at
w w w.f reedomf orum.org, or by
calling 1-800-830-3733 and
request ing publicat ion No. 99-F03.
w w w.biblecurriculum.org
CONTINUED
95
Religion in t he Public
School Curriculum
7
Finding Com m on Ground: A Guide t o Religious Libert y in Public Schools
Am erica’s Religions: An Educat or’s Guide t o Belief s and Pract ices
Teacher Ideas Press present s a guide by Benjamin
Hubbard, John Hat f ield, and James Sant ucci t o t he
belief s and pract ices of a number of t he w orld’s
religions. Designed specif ically f or t eachers, t he guide
examines each religious group in t erms of it s origins,
belief s, sacred script ures, pract ices, main subgroups,
common misunderst andings and st ereot ypes, and
classroom concerns.
This book is available f rom Teacher Ideas Press, Dept . B40,
P.O. Box 6633, Englew ood, CO 80155-6633; by phone at
1-800-237-6124, ext .1; or on t he w eb at w w w.lu.com/t ip.
7
Religion in t he Public
School Curriculum
96
Religion in t he Public School Curriculum
Organizations That Provide Classroom Resources
Council on Islam ic Educat ion
P.O. Box 20186
Fount ain Valley
CA 92728-0186
(714) 839-2929
w w w.cie.org
email: [email protected].
The Council on Islamic Educat ion (CIE) is a nat ional, non-prof it resource organizat ion
dedicat ed t o providing inf ormat ion on Islam and M uslim hist ory t o K-12 t ext book
publishers, educat ion off icials, curriculum developers, t eachers, and ot her educat ion
prof essionals. CIE is comprised of scholars and academicians associat ed w it h major
universit ies and inst it ut ions t hroughout t he Unit ed St at es. CIE produces resource
mat erials, conduct s w orkshops, at t ends educat ion conf erences, and convenes event s in
it s eff ort s t ow ards accurat e, balanced, and sensit ive coverage of Islam in t he cont ext
of a global approach t o w orld hist ory.
Religion and Public Educat ion Resource Cent er
Direct or: Dr. Bruce Grelle
Depart ment of Religious St udies
Calif ornia St at e Universit y — Chico
Chico, CA 95929-0740
(530) 898-4739
e-mail: [email protected]
The Religion and Public Educat ion Resource Cent er (RPERC) provides resources f or
t eaching about religions in public schools in w ays t hat are const it ut ionally permissible
and academically sound. The Cent er serves bot h as a deposit ory of exist ing mat erials
and as a cat alyst f or t he development and dist ribut ion of new mat erials relat ing t o
pedagogical and legal issues t hat arise in connect ion w it h t eaching about religion in
public schools. RPERC off ers curriculum guides and sample lessons in several subject
areas f or classroom t eachers.
CONTINUED
97
Religion in t he Public
School Curriculum
7
Finding Com m on Ground: A Guide t o Religious Libert y in Public Schools
Council f or Spirit ual and Et hical Educat ion
Execut ive Direct or: Pet er W. Cobb
1465 Nort hside Drive, Suit e 220
At lant a, GA 30318-4225
(800) 298-4599
f ax: (404) 355-4435
e-mail: inf [email protected]
w w w.csee.org
The Council f or Spirit ual and Et hical Educat ion is a membership organizat ion
t hat serves as a nat ional resource f or schools t o encourage t he moral, et hical,
and spirit ual development of young people. CSEE promot es communit y service,
provides resources and a net w ork f or schools’ involvement in communit y service
and service learning. CSEE also support s inst ruct ion in w orld religions and et hics
as essent ial component s of a complet e educat ion.
7
Religion in t he Public
School Curriculum
Religious St udies in Secondary Schools
7735 SW 87t h Avenue
Port land, OR 97223
inf [email protected]
w w w.rsiss.org
RSISS is a grow ing coalit ion of public and privat e secondary school t eachers
commit t ed t o t he idea t hat educat ion is not complet e w it hout t he academic
st udy of t he w orld’s religious t radit ions and t he et hical values, lit erat ures, and
cult ures so inext ricably linked t o t hem. There are no membership dues, just
people in t he f ield w illing t o help.
Religion and Educat ion
M ike Waggoner, Edit or
Universit y of Nort hern Iow a
508 Schindler Educat ion Cent er
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0604
(319) 273-2605
email: [email protected]
w w w.uni.edu/jrae
Religion and Educat ion is a journal devot ed t o new s, review s of books and
curricular mat erials, and essays relat ing t o int eract ions of religion and educat ion.
Religion and Educat ion’s mission is t o f acilit at e inf ormed, const it ut ionally
appropriat e t eaching about religions in hist ory and cult ure t hat enables st udent s
t o part icipat e in a pluralist ic and religiously diverse w orld.
98
Religion in t he Public School Curriculum
Internet Resources
The Int ernet has become a valuable t ool f or exploring religious libert y issues in
educat ion and t he role of religion in t he curriculum. In response t o t his grow t h, w e
have prepared a list of resources relat ing t o various religious inf ormat ion sit es t hat
can be f ound on t he Int ernet . Some of t hese sit es t arget t he academic communit y,
and as such are more usef ul t o t he t eacher w ho is t rying t o bet t er underst and a
variet y of f ait h t radit ions. A w ord of caut ion is due here. As t he Int ernet is an everchanging ent it y, t he cont ent of t he sit es ment ioned is also changing. Whenever
st udent s are using t he Int ernet , t hey should be closely monit ored. In f act , w e
encourage t eachers t o preview t hese sit es bef ore st udent s are allow ed t o access
t hem. While w e have at t empt ed t o choose sit es t hat are w ell est ablished, t heir
addresses and locat ions can change f requent ly. Also, please remember t hat t hese
sit es are not endorsed by t he First Amendment Cent er but are merely areas t hat
might provide valuable inf ormat ion f or t he classroom.
APS Guide t o Resources in Theology
www.utoronto.ca/stmikes/theobook.htm
This University of Toronto site is actually a list of links to other sites, primarily those
dealing with Christian resources. It is of interest because it links to sites that provide
primary materials (papyri, manuscripts, etc.) Most of the linked sites are fairly
sophisticated and would be most useful as resources for teachers seeking a deeper
understanding of some of the various Christian denominations and early source
materials in Christian studies.
CONTINUED
99
Religion in t he Public
School Curriculum
7
Finding Com m on Ground: A Guide t o Religious Libert y in Public Schools
Int erf ait h Calendar by M all Area Religious Council
w w w.int erf ait hcalendar.org
This sit e is a list ing of t he religious holidays observed by various religious groups.
It is a usef ul resource f or t eachers w ho are int erest ed in t hese holidays.
7
Religion in t he Public
School Curriculum
Yahoo! List ing of Religious Sit es
dir.yahoo.com/Societ y_and_Cult ure/Religion_and_Spirit ualit y/
This sit e is f rom t he Yahoo! Search engine. It list s a number of diff erent f ait h
t radit ions and sit es t hat apply t o each. It is of quest ionable usef ulness t o st udent s,
due t o t he number of issues included in some of t he indices, and t o t he large
number of sit es t hat are list ed. (It is hard f or t eachers t o preview t he more t han
13,000 sit es t hat are list ed in t he Fait h and Pract ices indices.)
CONTINUED
100
Religion in t he Public School Curriculum
Academ ic Inf orm at ion on Religion
w w w.academicinf o.net /religindex.ht ml
This is an academic version of t he Yahoo! Sit e not ed above. It not only list s various
religions, but also list s t hem according t o t heir presence in various geographic
locat ions. This sit e is valuable in t hat it also links t o t he art and lit erat ure of t he
various belief syst ems, a usef ul f eat ure f or t eachers seeking visual aids. This sit e links
t o college- and graduat e-level sit es and is t oo complex f or younger children.
Religion in t he Public
School Curriculum
Pluralism Project
w w w.f as.harvard.edu/~pluralsm/
The Pluralism Project web site at Harvard University is filled with such resources as
pictures of various U.S. worship centers, links to other sites with content related to
various faiths, syllabi from college courses on the topic of religious pluralism, and archives
of news articles reporting on recent faith traditions in the United States.
CONTINUED
101
7
Finding Com m on Ground: A Guide t o Religious Libert y in Public Schools
Nat ional Hum anit ies Cent er
ht t p://w w w.nhc.rt p.nc.us/t serve/t serve.ht m
The Nat ional Humanit ies Cent er TeacherServ w eb sit e is designed t o provide pract ical
planning helps f or t eaching t opics in t he liberal art s. Inst ruct ional guides and resource
mat erials are provided t o assist t eachers w it h secondary-school humanit ies t opics,
part icularly as relat ed t o t eaching about religion. The current guide, Divining America,
is an invaluable resource f or t eachers at t empt ing t o achieve a deeper underst anding of
religion’s place in American hist ory.
7
Religion in t he Public
School Curriculum
Educat ion f or Freedom
ht t p://w w w.f reedomf orum.org/t emplat es/document .asp?document ID=13588
Education for Freedom is offered by The Freedom Forum’s First Amendment Center. These
lessons (beginning and advanced levels) address constitutional principles and contemporary
issues involving the First Amendment. They will draw young people into an exploration of
how their freedoms began and how they operate in today's world. Students will discuss
just how far
individual rights
extend, examining
rights in the school
environment and
public places. The
lessons may be
used in history and
government,
language arts and
journalism, art and
debate classes.
They may be used
in sections or in
their entirety.
102
C H A P T E R
Religion in the Public
School Curriculum
FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE
UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION
7
Religion in t he Public School Curriculum:
Quest ions and Answ ers is sponsored joint ly by:
American Academy of Religion
American Associat ion of School Administ rat ors
American Federat ion of Teachers
American Jew ish Congress
Americans Unit ed Research Foundat ion
Associat ion f or Supervision and Curriculum Development
Bapt ist Joint Commit t ee on Public Aff airs
Christ ian Legal Societ y
The Church of Jesus Christ of Lat t er-day Saint s
First Amendment Cent er
The Islamic Societ y of Nort h America
Nat ional Associat ion of Evangelicals
Nat ional Conf erence of Communit y and Just ice
Nat ional Council of Churches of Christ in t he USA
Nat ional Council f or t he Social St udies
Nat ional Educat ion Associat ion
Nat ional School Boards Associat ion
Religion in t he Public School Curriculum
Growing numbers of people in the United States think it is
important to teach about religion in the public schools.1
But what is the appropriate place of religion in the public- school curriculum? How does
one approach such issues as textbook content, values education, creation science and
religious holidays?
QU EST IO NS and ANSW ERS:
RELIGIO N IN T H E P U BLIC
SC H O O L C U RRIC U LU M
T he following questions and answers are designed to assist school boards as they make
decisions about the curriculum and educators as they teach about religion in ways that are
constitutionally permissible, educationally sound, and sensitive to the beliefs of students
and parents.
Is it const it ut ional t o t each about religion in public schools?
Yes. In the 1960s school-prayer cases (that prompted rulings against state-sponsored school
prayer and Bible reading), the U.S. Supreme Court indicated that public school education
may include teaching about religion. In Abington v. Schempp, Associate Justice Tom Clark
wrote for the Court:
[I]t might well be said that one’s education is not complete without a study of
comparative religion or the history of religion and its relationship to the
advancement of civilization. It certainly may be said that the Bible is worthy of study
for its literary and historic qualities. Nothing we have said here indicates that such
study of the Bible or of religion, when presented objectively as part of a secular
program of education, may not be effected consistently with the First Amendment.
1
“Teaching about religion” includes consideration of the beliefs and practices of religions; the role of religion in history and
contemporary society; and religious themes in music, art and literature.
89
Religion in t he Public
School Curriculum
7
Finding Com m on Ground: A Guide t o Religious Libert y in Public Schools
What is m eant by “ t eaching about
religion” in t he public schools?
T he following statements distinguish between
teaching about religion in public schools and
religious indoctrination:
1. T he school’s approach to religion is academic,
not devotional.
2. T he school may strive for student awareness of
religions, but should not press for student
acceptance of any one religion.
3. T he school may sponsor study about religion,
but may not sponsor the practice
of religion.
7
Religion in t he Public
School Curriculum
4. T he school may expose students to a diversity
of religious views, but may not impose any
particular view.
5. T he school may educate about all religions, but
may not promote or denigrate any religion.
6. T he school may inform the student about various beliefs, but should not seek to
conform him or her to any particular belief.2
Why should st udy about religion be included in t he public
school curriculum ?
Because religion plays a significant role in history and society, study about religion is
essential to understanding both the nation and the world. Omission of facts about religion
can give students the false impression that the religious life of humankind is insignificant or
unimportant. Failure to understand even the basic symbols, practices and concepts of the
various religions makes much of history, literature, art and contemporary life unintelligible.
Study about religion is also important if students are to value religious liberty, the first
freedom guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. Moreover, knowledge of the roles of religion in
the past and present promotes cross-cultural understanding essential to democracy and
world peace.
2
T his answer is based on guidelines originally published by the Public Education Religion Studies Center at Wright State University.
90
Religion in t he Public School Curriculum
Where does st udy about religion belong in t he curriculum ?
Wherever it naturally arises. On the secondary level, the social studies, literature and the arts
offer many opportunities for the inclusion of information about religions — their ideas and
themes. On the elementary level, natural opportunities arise in discussions of the family and
community life and in instruction about festivals and different cultures. Many educators
believe that integrating study about religion into existing courses is an educationally sound
way to acquaint students with the role of religion in history and society.
Religion also may be taught about in special courses or units. Some secondary schools, for
example, offer such courses as world religions, the Bible as literature, and the religious
literature of the West and of the East.
Do current t ext books t each about religion?
Rarely. Recent textbook studies conclude that most widely used textbooks largely ignore
the role of religion in history and society. For example, readers of high school U.S. history
texts learn little or nothing about the great colonial revivals, the struggles of minority
faiths, the religious motivations of immigrants, the contributions of religious groups to
many social movements, major episodes of religious intolerance, and many other
significant events of history. Education without appropriate attention to major religious
influences and themes is incomplete education.
How does t eaching about religion relat e t o t he t eaching
of values?
Teaching about religion is not the same as teaching values. T he former is objective,
academic study; the latter involves the teaching of particular ethical viewpoints or
standards of behavior.
T here are basic moral values that are recognized by the population at large (e.g., honesty,
integrity, justice, compassion). T hese values can be taught in classes through discussion,
by example and by carrying out school policies. However, teachers may not invoke
religious authority.
Public schools may teach about the various religious and nonreligious perspectives
concerning the many complex moral issues confronting society, but such perspectives must
be presented without adopting, sponsoring or denigrating one view against another.
Is it const it ut ional t o t each t he biblical account of creat ion in t he
public schools?
Some states have passed laws requiring that creationist theory based on the biblical account
be taught in the science classroom. T he courts have found these laws to be unconstitutional
on the ground that they promote a particular religious view. T he Supreme Court has
91
Religion in t he Public
School Curriculum
7
Finding Com m on Ground: A Guide t o Religious Libert y in Public Schools
acknowledged, however, that a variety
of scientific theories about origins can
be appropriately taught in the science
classroom. In Edwards v. Aguillard, the
Court stated:
[T ]eaching a variety of scientific
theories about the origins of
humankind to schoolchildren
might be validly done with the
clear secular intent of enhancing
the effectiveness of science
instruction.
7
Religion in t he Public
School Curriculum
T hough science instruction may not endorse or promote religious doctrine, the account of
creation found in various scriptures may be discussed in a religious studies class or in any
course that considers religious explanations for the origin of life.
How should religious holidays be t reat ed in t he classroom ?
Carefully. Religious holidays offer excellent opportunities to teach about religion in the
elementary and secondary schools. Recognition of and information about such holidays
should focus on the origin, history and generally agreed-upon meaning of the observances.
If the approach is objective, neither advancing nor inhibiting religion, it can foster among
students understanding and mutual respect within and beyond the local community.
92
Religion in t he Public School Curriculum
Resources
The f ollow ing resources off er excellent background mat erial f or underst anding not
only how religion has inf luenced t he past , but also how it cont inues t o inf luence
societ y t oday. Addit ional assist ance can of t en be f ound t hrough local colleges and
universit ies, w hich may provide bot h w orkshops and speakers.
Taking religion seriously in t he curriculum w ill require a commit ment by schools of
educat ion t o give t eachers more exposure t o t he st udy of religious inf luences and
appropriat e resources f or t eaching about t hese inf luences in t he public school set t ing.
Religion in Am erican Lif e - Oxf ord Universit y Press
At long last , a series of scholarly w orks on religion w rit t en f or young readers is
available. Edit ed by Yale Universit y prof essors Jon But ler and Harry St out and
published by Oxf ord Universit y Press, Religion in American Lif e is a 17-volume series
aut hored by some of t he nat ion’s leading scholars in t he f ield of religious st udies.
The series is an invaluable resource f or t eachers of junior and senior high school
st udent s. Teachers of U.S. hist ory w ill f ind all of t he volumes most usef ul, but w orld
hist ory, government and lit erat ure t eachers w ill also be able t o use many of t he
volumes in a variet y of w ays. Three chronological volumes give t he religious hist ory
of t he Unit ed St at es f rom t he colonial period t o t he present . Nine volumes cover
signif icant religious groups in America, including
Prot est ant s, Cat holics, Jew s, M uslims, Nat ive
Americans and East ern f ait hs. Four volumes
address specif ic t opics — w omen, church-st at e
issues, Af rican American religion, and immigrat ion
— t hat are of special import ance in underst anding
t he role of religion in American lif e.
Wit h t he addit ion of t hese books t o school and
classroom libraries, st udent s and t eachers w ill
have access t o scholarly w orks t hat f ill t he gaps
lef t by inadequat e t ext book t reat ment of
religion. In f act , t he chronological volumes w ould
t hemselves be excellent t ext books f or an elect ive
course on religion in America or religion in U.S.
hist ory. A t eacher’s guide, prepared by t he First
Amendment Cent er, suggest s w ays t o use t he
volumes f or supplement al reading and research
project s in hist ory and ot her courses.
For more inf ormat ion, visit Oxf ord Universit y press
at w w w.oup-usa.org.
CONTINUED
93
Religion in t he Public
School Curriculum
7
Finding Com m on Ground: A Guide t o Religious Libert y in Public Schools
On Com m on Ground (CD-ROM )
Anot her groundbreaking resource f or st udent s and t eachers is On Common
Ground: World Religions in America, a CD-ROM published in 1997 by Columbia
Universit y Press. This mult imedia resource uses t ext , primary sources, phot ographs,
music, f ilm and t he spoken w ord t o bring alive t he ext raordinary religious diversit y in
t he Unit ed St at es. Prepared by Harvard Divinit y School prof essor Diana Eck, t he CDROM draw s on t he Pluralism Project , a Harvard-based st udy t hat has document ed
America’s religious landscape.
Using t he CD-ROM , st udent s can f ind out about t he belief s and pract ices of America’s
many f ait h t radit ions. They are able t o explore t he religious diversit y of eight een cit ies
and regions of t he Unit ed St at es. Fif t een diff erent religions are represent ed, f rom t he
long-est ablished Nat ive American, Christ ian and Jew ish t radit ions t o more recent
arrivals such as Hinduism and Buddhism.
7
Religion in t he Public
School Curriculum
What is especially impressive about t his resource is it s use of document s, phot ographs,
f ilm, and music t o enable pract it ioners of each f ait h t o provide st udent s w it h some
experience of t he religion f rom t he inside. It is also not ew ort hy t hat diff erences w it hin
various t radit ions are discussed (e.g., Ort hodox and Ref orm Judaism). Even issues
debat ed w it hin various t radit ions — t he role of w omen in Islam, f or example — are
included. In short , t his is an essent ial resource f or every secondary social st udies and
lit erat ure classroom.
For more inf ormat ion, visit t he w eb sit e at
w w w.columbia.edu/cu/cup/cat alog/elect ronic/idx_cd.ht ml.
Orders can be placed at : 1-800-944-8648 (phone); 1-800-944-1844 (f ax); or Columbia
Universit y Press Order Depart ment , 136 Sout h Broadw ay, Irvingt on, NY 10533.
CONTINUED
94
Religion in t he Public School Curriculum
Taking Religion Seriously Across t he Curriculum
In Taking Religion Seriously Across t he Curriculum, Warren A. Nord and
Charles C. Haynes chart a middle course in our cult ure w ars over religion and
public educat ion – one t hat builds on a developing nat ional consensus among
educat ional and religious leaders. In Part One, Nord and Haynes explain w hy
schools should t ake religion seriously, and t hey out line t he civic, const it ut ional and
educat ional f ramew orks t hat should shape t he
t reat ment of religion in t he curriculum and classroom.
In Part Tw o, t hey explore t he major issues relat ing t o
religion in diff erent domains of t he curriculum – in
element ary educat ion and in middle- and high-school
courses in hist ory, civics, economics, lit erat ure and t he
sciences. They also discuss Bible courses and w orld
religions courses, and t hey explore t he relat ionship of
religion t o moral educat ion and sex educat ion. The
result is a book t hat is unique in t he scope of it s
considerat ion of t he relevance of religion across t he
curriculum.
This book is available f rom: Associat ion f or Supervision
and Curriculum Development , w w w.ascd.org.
The Bible & Public Schools: A First Am endm ent Guide
The First Amendment Cent er and t he Bible Lit eracy Project joint ly published t hese
First Amendment guidelines f or t eachers on t he appropriat e role of t he Bible in t he
public school curriculum. This guide is endorsed by a w ide array of organizat ions,
ranging f rom t he People f or t he American Way Foundat ion and t he American
Jew ish Congress t o t he Christ ian Legal Societ y and
t he Nat ional Associat ion of Evangelicals. The
guide is based on a quest ion-and-answ er f ormat
addressing such issues as w het her t he Bible can be
t aught in public schools, met hods and approaches
t hat are const it ut ional, and w hat t he court s have
said about t he subject .
This guide is available online at
w w w.f reedomf orum.org, or by
calling 1-800-830-3733 and
request ing publicat ion No. 99-F03.
w w w.biblecurriculum.org
CONTINUED
95
Religion in t he Public
School Curriculum
7
Finding Com m on Ground: A Guide t o Religious Libert y in Public Schools
Am erica’s Religions: An Educat or’s Guide t o Belief s and Pract ices
Teacher Ideas Press present s a guide by Benjamin
Hubbard, John Hat f ield, and James Sant ucci t o t he
belief s and pract ices of a number of t he w orld’s
religions. Designed specif ically f or t eachers, t he guide
examines each religious group in t erms of it s origins,
belief s, sacred script ures, pract ices, main subgroups,
common misunderst andings and st ereot ypes, and
classroom concerns.
This book is available f rom Teacher Ideas Press, Dept . B40,
P.O. Box 6633, Englew ood, CO 80155-6633; by phone at
1-800-237-6124, ext .1; or on t he w eb at w w w.lu.com/t ip.
7
Religion in t he Public
School Curriculum
96
Religion in t he Public School Curriculum
Organizations That Provide Classroom Resources
Council on Islam ic Educat ion
P.O. Box 20186
Fount ain Valley
CA 92728-0186
(714) 839-2929
w w w.cie.org
email: [email protected].
The Council on Islamic Educat ion (CIE) is a nat ional, non-prof it resource organizat ion
dedicat ed t o providing inf ormat ion on Islam and M uslim hist ory t o K-12 t ext book
publishers, educat ion off icials, curriculum developers, t eachers, and ot her educat ion
prof essionals. CIE is comprised of scholars and academicians associat ed w it h major
universit ies and inst it ut ions t hroughout t he Unit ed St at es. CIE produces resource
mat erials, conduct s w orkshops, at t ends educat ion conf erences, and convenes event s in
it s eff ort s t ow ards accurat e, balanced, and sensit ive coverage of Islam in t he cont ext
of a global approach t o w orld hist ory.
Religion and Public Educat ion Resource Cent er
Direct or: Dr. Bruce Grelle
Depart ment of Religious St udies
Calif ornia St at e Universit y — Chico
Chico, CA 95929-0740
(530) 898-4739
e-mail: [email protected]
The Religion and Public Educat ion Resource Cent er (RPERC) provides resources f or
t eaching about religions in public schools in w ays t hat are const it ut ionally permissible
and academically sound. The Cent er serves bot h as a deposit ory of exist ing mat erials
and as a cat alyst f or t he development and dist ribut ion of new mat erials relat ing t o
pedagogical and legal issues t hat arise in connect ion w it h t eaching about religion in
public schools. RPERC off ers curriculum guides and sample lessons in several subject
areas f or classroom t eachers.
CONTINUED
97
Religion in t he Public
School Curriculum
7
Finding Com m on Ground: A Guide t o Religious Libert y in Public Schools
Council f or Spirit ual and Et hical Educat ion
Execut ive Direct or: Pet er W. Cobb
1465 Nort hside Drive, Suit e 220
At lant a, GA 30318-4225
(800) 298-4599
f ax: (404) 355-4435
e-mail: inf [email protected]
w w w.csee.org
The Council f or Spirit ual and Et hical Educat ion is a membership organizat ion
t hat serves as a nat ional resource f or schools t o encourage t he moral, et hical,
and spirit ual development of young people. CSEE promot es communit y service,
provides resources and a net w ork f or schools’ involvement in communit y service
and service learning. CSEE also support s inst ruct ion in w orld religions and et hics
as essent ial component s of a complet e educat ion.
7
Religion in t he Public
School Curriculum
Religious St udies in Secondary Schools
7735 SW 87t h Avenue
Port land, OR 97223
inf [email protected]
w w w.rsiss.org
RSISS is a grow ing coalit ion of public and privat e secondary school t eachers
commit t ed t o t he idea t hat educat ion is not complet e w it hout t he academic
st udy of t he w orld’s religious t radit ions and t he et hical values, lit erat ures, and
cult ures so inext ricably linked t o t hem. There are no membership dues, just
people in t he f ield w illing t o help.
Religion and Educat ion
M ike Waggoner, Edit or
Universit y of Nort hern Iow a
508 Schindler Educat ion Cent er
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0604
(319) 273-2605
email: [email protected]
w w w.uni.edu/jrae
Religion and Educat ion is a journal devot ed t o new s, review s of books and
curricular mat erials, and essays relat ing t o int eract ions of religion and educat ion.
Religion and Educat ion’s mission is t o f acilit at e inf ormed, const it ut ionally
appropriat e t eaching about religions in hist ory and cult ure t hat enables st udent s
t o part icipat e in a pluralist ic and religiously diverse w orld.
98
Religion in t he Public School Curriculum
Internet Resources
The Int ernet has become a valuable t ool f or exploring religious libert y issues in
educat ion and t he role of religion in t he curriculum. In response t o t his grow t h, w e
have prepared a list of resources relat ing t o various religious inf ormat ion sit es t hat
can be f ound on t he Int ernet . Some of t hese sit es t arget t he academic communit y,
and as such are more usef ul t o t he t eacher w ho is t rying t o bet t er underst and a
variet y of f ait h t radit ions. A w ord of caut ion is due here. As t he Int ernet is an everchanging ent it y, t he cont ent of t he sit es ment ioned is also changing. Whenever
st udent s are using t he Int ernet , t hey should be closely monit ored. In f act , w e
encourage t eachers t o preview t hese sit es bef ore st udent s are allow ed t o access
t hem. While w e have at t empt ed t o choose sit es t hat are w ell est ablished, t heir
addresses and locat ions can change f requent ly. Also, please remember t hat t hese
sit es are not endorsed by t he First Amendment Cent er but are merely areas t hat
might provide valuable inf ormat ion f or t he classroom.
APS Guide t o Resources in Theology
www.utoronto.ca/stmikes/theobook.htm
This University of Toronto site is actually a list of links to other sites, primarily those
dealing with Christian resources. It is of interest because it links to sites that provide
primary materials (papyri, manuscripts, etc.) Most of the linked sites are fairly
sophisticated and would be most useful as resources for teachers seeking a deeper
understanding of some of the various Christian denominations and early source
materials in Christian studies.
CONTINUED
99
Religion in t he Public
School Curriculum
7
Finding Com m on Ground: A Guide t o Religious Libert y in Public Schools
Int erf ait h Calendar by M all Area Religious Council
w w w.int erf ait hcalendar.org
This sit e is a list ing of t he religious holidays observed by various religious groups.
It is a usef ul resource f or t eachers w ho are int erest ed in t hese holidays.
7
Religion in t he Public
School Curriculum
Yahoo! List ing of Religious Sit es
dir.yahoo.com/Societ y_and_Cult ure/Religion_and_Spirit ualit y/
This sit e is f rom t he Yahoo! Search engine. It list s a number of diff erent f ait h
t radit ions and sit es t hat apply t o each. It is of quest ionable usef ulness t o st udent s,
due t o t he number of issues included in some of t he indices, and t o t he large
number of sit es t hat are list ed. (It is hard f or t eachers t o preview t he more t han
13,000 sit es t hat are list ed in t he Fait h and Pract ices indices.)
CONTINUED
100
Religion in t he Public School Curriculum
Academ ic Inf orm at ion on Religion
w w w.academicinf o.net /religindex.ht ml
This is an academic version of t he Yahoo! Sit e not ed above. It not only list s various
religions, but also list s t hem according t o t heir presence in various geographic
locat ions. This sit e is valuable in t hat it also links t o t he art and lit erat ure of t he
various belief syst ems, a usef ul f eat ure f or t eachers seeking visual aids. This sit e links
t o college- and graduat e-level sit es and is t oo complex f or younger children.
Religion in t he Public
School Curriculum
Pluralism Project
w w w.f as.harvard.edu/~pluralsm/
The Pluralism Project web site at Harvard University is filled with such resources as
pictures of various U.S. worship centers, links to other sites with content related to
various faiths, syllabi from college courses on the topic of religious pluralism, and archives
of news articles reporting on recent faith traditions in the United States.
CONTINUED
101
7
Finding Com m on Ground: A Guide t o Religious Libert y in Public Schools
Nat ional Hum anit ies Cent er
ht t p://w w w.nhc.rt p.nc.us/t serve/t serve.ht m
The Nat ional Humanit ies Cent er TeacherServ w eb sit e is designed t o provide pract ical
planning helps f or t eaching t opics in t he liberal art s. Inst ruct ional guides and resource
mat erials are provided t o assist t eachers w it h secondary-school humanit ies t opics,
part icularly as relat ed t o t eaching about religion. The current guide, Divining America,
is an invaluable resource f or t eachers at t empt ing t o achieve a deeper underst anding of
religion’s place in American hist ory.
7
Religion in t he Public
School Curriculum
Educat ion f or Freedom
ht t p://w w w.f reedomf orum.org/t emplat es/document .asp?document ID=13588
Education for Freedom is offered by The Freedom Forum’s First Amendment Center. These
lessons (beginning and advanced levels) address constitutional principles and contemporary
issues involving the First Amendment. They will draw young people into an exploration of
how their freedoms began and how they operate in today's world. Students will discuss
just how far
individual rights
extend, examining
rights in the school
environment and
public places. The
lessons may be
used in history and
government,
language arts and
journalism, art and
debate classes.
They may be used
in sections or in
their entirety.
102