On Education Part II by Brighouse – Should Governments Support Religious School?
Brighouse main idea of the book is to educate children in order to help them lead a life that will flourish. In Part II chapter five, the issue of the government supporting religious schools is evaluated. He discusses the importance of adapting some ways that resemble the system of the UK, where religious schools are funded through the government. He believes supporting religious schools will create a diversity, and evolved into an environment where children can in fact flourish. Exposing children to different ways of life than their own cultivates autonomy, and self-governing individuals. However, schools have to be careful not to endorse or condemns religious
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Brighouse explains how this hinders against our children's autonomy. The issue is explained by bringing up the decision parents have to make when enrolling their children into school. The choices are between sectarian religious schools or public secular schools. The children that are send to the religious school will only see one way of life. Not having those children be part of public school, also denies the opportunity to the children in the public system to see other ways of life. Making his point that school need to facilitate diversity.
In contrary to the UK, where preference is given to students that are raised in the faith the school sponsors, Brighouse believes that in order to create an autonomy leading environment any student should be allowed in without any religious pre-requisites.
I agree with Brighouse that the United States would benefit from emulating certain aspects of the United Kingdoms' educational system. It is important to create a diverse environment in our schools. We live in a world of diversity. We should teach our children to be accepting of other religions, culture and traditions.
I am convinced of the importance in autonomy in our children's character. Having religious studies gives the opportunity to find, explore and confirm or contradict believes that will build the individuals
Shelley Burtt argues that liberal democratic ideals are best honored when parents are allowed to structure their children’s education through an opt-out option in ways compatible with their religious beliefs. This strong principle of parental deference under which most parental objections to particular aspects of public school curriculum should be both respected and accommodated. Overall I believe her argument is pretty weak and there should be no parents deference when it comes to religious reasons in public schools.
“I tell them that another important thing I learned in first grade was schools could be a place to bring people together - kids of all races and backgrounds. That’s the work I focus on now, connecting our children through their schools. Its my way of continuing what God set in motion forty years ago when He led me up the steps of William Frantz Public School and into a new world with my teacher, Mrs. Henry-- a world that under His protection has reached far beyond just the two of us in that classroom.” (Bridges) With the right guidance plus the right attitude anyone can go somewhere in life. It doesn’t matter where anyone is headed as long as the necessary steps are taken, which results in guaranteed success.
Until the early 1960s, religion was accepted in most public school systems across our nation. One of the main purposes for school in early America was for religious purposes (Prothero). Benjamin Franklin stated, "It is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand." Thomas Jefferson stated, "The question isn't what religion is true. The question is what religious traditions do we need to know something about in order to be an effective citizen." Something that can be beneficial to our nation should not be taken away. Even though religion offends some people, it should be allowed in public schools because of its influence on America and western civilizations, and its ability to help form closer relationships.
The scope was enormous in terms of application of creativity and cross curricular opportunities. Ashton (2000) suggests there is no reason why religious education should not be interrelated with work carried out to increase literacy or other curriculum areas, both in thinking, verbal expression and the use of written language. Further more, it is a subject that remains to be frequently visited by myself so it also
University of Michigan. “Religion in Schools: A look at how religious practices influence education.” .
While students are attending public schools they should be aware of their religion options. The student should have the right to practice their religion as they please, just on the own time. Yes, religion plays a huge part in molding a person but, should be practiced when the time is available, not in a classroom setting. The government should have the ability to control the protection of the students that just want to learn. The capability to regulate the religious practices while attending public educational institutions should be left to the government. Faith, religion and belief, usually are three words that are used to describe one situation, although these words have three different meanings. To have faith in something or someone you must first believe in it and also accept it as well, but have a belief without evidence. Religion is a belief in a heavenly superhuman power or principle, such as the almighty or creator to all things. Everyone has faith and belief, but not all believers believe in the almighty. Allowing religion into public schools while everyone attending not having the same belief is unfair, unconstitutional and is complicated to teach to a verity of students.
(Grace, 2013). Likewise, through religious studies students are not simply learning about one religion, they learn about the many different religions that surround them and through this they gain a better understanding and hopefully learn about tolerance and
Philosophy is used to teach wisdom. Allowing open religion into the public school system could restore American values and possibly save younger adult lives. All Americans have their natural right which is freedom of religion in this country. The country cannot establish a certain religion over the land. The limitations placed on students, teachers, and administrators with the issue of religion in schools seem to be endless and may be bring harm to the communities of the
An Example from Christian Missionary Educators In order to create effective leaders for the 21st century, Christian educators must adapt instruction to the needs of this generation. Christian education was a significant part of the work of evangelical Protestant missionaries who sought to bring the Gospel to the world in previous centuries (Woodberry, 2012). The focus on education and Bible literacy eventually resulted in benefits society as a whole. Research by Woodberry (2012) determined that countries where evangelical Protestant missionaries worked have higher levels of education, economic development, rule of law and lower levels of corruption than countries where evangelical Protestant missionaries did not work.
Religion can be taught in many ways through songs, arts and crafts, read aloud and many other activities. Christianity is the most popular religion in the world, this religion has no strict or specific ritual. Most children who attend public schools are Christians but what about the other religiously different peers, who dress differently or speak differently. The percentage of Muslims and Hindus are on the rise, children should learn about the growing diversity of religion within their own country. The world’s greatest problem doesn’t result from being unable to read and write.
Teaching a religion class would be beneficial because the students would be more educated on other people’s religious views. This would allow the students to understand why other students act, dress, and think the way that they do. This deeper understanding of their fellow classmates would help the student to be more accepting from different ethnic backgrounds. Students should have a religious class at the start of their high school education. At these age students have numerous social barriers between people with different ethnic values.
Education is an innovative method that promotes people’s knowledge on real world application. It displays a person’s notional belief in a logical instruction that is being given. Without education, the world would lack knowledge on obtaining or fulfilling their purpose in life. As a Christian educator, I believe that every person on this earth holds value to the world. There embedded value, allows the world to move in the direction in which God plans it to do.
Religion should not be taught in school for many reasons because it will cost a lot of problems, The teachers don’t know enough about other religion other than their own, There are various religion so it would be impossible to teach all of the religion, There too many differences between religions and finally would exclude atheist people being comfortable. In these four reasons, you can conclude that having a religion has a subject in our
Education and religion are two inseparable topics that tend to lead to confusion and controversy when they are placed upon each other. Since the beginning, the United States of America has been built upon religion. Hence the term, “God” being put into famous writings such as the Pledge of Allegiance and the Constitution. However, as time goes on the number of diversity in religion and has risen. In addition, it has become a debate on whether or not religion should be allowed into the new current developing school systems.
Notwithstanding, some believe that religious schools or institutions should be government funded, or at least have religion less ostracized in society. Nonetheless, our freedom of