Concise, persuasive essay on the topic of teaching religion in schools.

Restriction of Religion

Do you want your children to learn about God at school? Should they be learning those things at school? In Quebec, there are three choices for religious classes: C.R.I. ([Roman] Catholic Religious Instruction), M.R.E. (having to do mainly with Protestant instruction) and Morals which discusses moral issues outside common religious matters such as God, Jesus and the Bible. Schools around the world are debating whether or not to contuinue this program.. Presently they are teaching however. Well the truth is, religion should not be taught in schools and there are many reasons for this.

There are better places to get religious instruction. There are churches and synagogues and temples to learn about it. In fact, it is the opinion of many that religion is something that should be a found on a personal level, everyone for themselves. This is impossible to do if the kids are being forced to believe something that they don't agree with at school. Others strongly believe the religion has to be taught in the home by the parents because it is their inherited responsibility. This ideas are logical. In fact, it is a Biblical principal. Deuteronomy 6:6,7 commands parents: "These words that I am commanding you today must prove to be on your heart; and you must inculcate them in your son and speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up." Here, God was telling parents to teach their children his "words" at all times; in the house; on the road, when they go to sleep and when they wake up.

There are more important things to learn at school. Many subjects need more time to emphasise their value. Math, for example, "is the most difficult course for students because of the emphasis on working rapidly instead of taking the time to really understand it" commented a high-school teacher. Physical Education is another example. Hal Johnson, a television fitness instructor remarked: "Everyone, specially students in school, need at least 30 minutes of physical activity (such as in gym class) every day." Every day. Such activity helps students in every other subject because it has been proven to help relax, concentrate and control stress. The problem is that schools are far from meeting these needs because of the lack of time. Removing classes such as Religion would make more time for these essential courses.

Religion cannot be taught in depth with enough integrity in school. Are two periods lasting 50 minutes each twice per week enough time to devote to learning about God? Absolutely not! Even it it were, the sad truth is that many students just don't care about religion, and trying to force an idea, particularly a religious idea, onto a person who is in the rebellious stage in life, is useless, a waste of time. It is this spirit of indifference that degrades Religion. One student responded when asked about religion class: "What about it? It's just another class. I don't mind it though, because we don't do any work." Now, there will always be those who actually will want to learn about religion in school. For their sake, religion class should be one of the optional courses. This arrangement would accommodate both groups.

It is plain to see that Religion should not be taught at school because there are better places to learn about God, there are more inmportant things to do in school and because it cannot be taught in depth with enough integrity. To think otherwise, is to be one-sided.