Argumentative Essay On Religion In Public Schools

Religion has played a major role in our country since the beginning. Our Founding Fathers were very devout Christians. This country was set up with the intent of having our religous freedom secured. They passed laws that created a separation of church and state. However, in recent years this separation has began to deminish. Our government should stand and protect the rights our Founding Fathers instilled in this country. Even though we have this separation, there have been debates for decades calling for changes. This argument is strongest when it comes to the public school system. There have been controversies over prayer in schools, teaching of evolution, and displaying the Ten Comandments.In the article “Does religion have a place in public schools?” it states, “Indeed, while public schools, which are run by the government, must allow students to express their own religious views, the First Amendment prevents the schools from endorsing religion or creating an environment that forces students to participate in religious exercises.” The only schools that are exempt from government laws are private schools. They can promote any religion they wish. There
The first major case was the “Scopes Monkey Trial.” John Scopes was a high school teacher in the town of Dayton, Tennessee. He was charged with teaching evolution. After the trial he was fined $100. Another major trial was the West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette (1943). In this trial, requiring someone to say the Pledge of Allegiance violated the right to freedom of religion. Jehovah’s Witnesses believe it is wrong to pledge your alliegence to anything, but God. This is how it was deemed unconstitutional. In 1962 and 1963, rulings were made that made prayer in schools pretty much illegal. Two rulings in the 1990s supported student religious groups the same privledges as other clubs. (Does religion have a place in public