Freedom of Religion in Public Schools Essay Example

In recent years teaching or the individual practice of religion in school has become a very controversial topic. There are many different views on this matter and even more opinions on how it should be handled. There are people on both sides of the spectrum, there are those who believe that it should be taught and allowed in school, and there are those who believe it should not be taught or practiced in school. There have been cases brought to court about how religion should be taken out of schools, or if it should be allowed. There are many differences that cause concern between public schools and private or religious schools regarding education. For example, could it be that single – sex schools (which are only seen in private institutions) have better academic achievement because there is less distraction? Or maybe it is the fact that private school students are selectively picked, and therefore start out with better chances of succeeding. (Institute for Policy Research, 1998) Students have the right to pray individually or in groups or to discuss their religious view with their peers.
In God We Trust on the dollar bill, The Ten Commandments at a state court house, these are things over the past years that you might have heard in the news causing some controversy. As current events go on, the Separation of Church and State is being brought into light more and more every day. When the United States Constitution was founded in the 18th century, many liberties were given to its citizens. One of those rights was the freedom of religious persecution, and the right to practice whatever you believe in. As the months turned into years, and the years turned into centuries, we have been brought to present times. The controversy seems to be piling up these days, but to understand the controversy today we must understand the history and the concept of the Separation of Church and State. (www.azetc.com). Before the government provided formal schools and programs of