The Observer, April 6, 2007
Volume XXXIX, Issue 23
Religion should be taught in public schools
With all the hubbub surrounding issues such as the teaching of intelligent design in public schools, one must wonder how well-informed our particular opinions are on such divisive topics. Many college students now believe that teaching intelligent design in any form is not only a breach of the separation of church and state, but morally repugnant as well. But would teaching religion in schools necessarily constitute a heinous melding of church and state? More importantly, wouldn't educating students about various theories such as intelligent design serve to enhance pupils' understandings of our national zeitgeist and cultural environment?
Because we fear that various doctrines will infect the minds of the youth, we have neglected the purpose and intent of school – the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom. Would teaching intelligent design in schools necessarily indoctrinate students, producing hordes of right-wing Christian fundamentalists? I think we should give public school students more credit than that.
One tends to forget that public schools have had a moderating influence, particularly amongst the ideological variety found within our country. America is a country of vastly different opinions, peoples, and cultures. It would seem to me that by skirting around the path and by avoiding discussion within our public schools, we are doing a disservice to our students, who turn to various other sources of information.
If we can get past the knee-jerk reaction to teaching certain taboo subjects in the classroom, perhaps we can move beyond the infantile and plainly stupid debates that rage nowadays. While the division between the church and state is certainly important, perhaps it would be wise to open a mature discussion about it – something that we could start in our public schools.
If religion is a topic that is important to so many Americans, then why isn't it important enough to teach in our schools? Perhaps we must start admitting that the only reason the barrier between the church and state has managed to function was not because of the work of some politician but rather the tolerance and respect that ordinary people have held for each other.
