Should Religion Be Taught in Public Schools?
Crossed: A Pastor and an Atheist Debate
Gary’s Statement
There was an interesting story out of West Virginia on February 8. For almost 80 years, Mercer County public schools have been teaching Bible stories as part of the regular curriculum. Although the course is now voluntary and funded by private donations, it is administered by the school district. The enrollment rate for the class in this heavily Christian region is 96 percent.
If the program is voluntary and privately funded, why should anyone be concerned?
One parent, who had to remove her daughter from the school system after she was bullied for opting out of the class, cares very much. Another mother of a kindergartner, together with the Freedom from Religion Foundation, have filed a joint lawsuit against the county.
Just because something is popular does not mean it is legal. The only way that teaching religion to public school students can be justified is that it must have a secular purpose. It must equally address all other religions without promoting or denigrating any of them. That is not what is occurring here.
There is nothing remotely secular about a class that only addresses Christianity. Can you imagine the outrage that would ensue if a Quran class were to be taught in a predominantly Muslim public school district?
Each of us today should be concerned with eliminating or minimizing barriers to equality. At least until the current administration took office, we had been making strides as a nation toward that end with respect to gender identity, sexual orientation, equality for women, and racial diversity. Unlike any of those, religion is a choice. To promote or even recognize that one religion is more correct or valuable than another only raises the discrimination bar. To do that in a public school is to show complete disregard for those who choose to live their lives without religion.
Elementary schools are for teaching reading, writing, and arithmetic. Churches are for teaching religion. It's just that simple.
Bill’s Statement
If they have their day in court, one local mother and a Wisconsin-based lobby for the separation of church and state might be granted the power to dictate what the good people of Mercer County, WV, may teach their children. There is something wrong with that picture. In a democracy, should not the majority of a community’s people have a say in what their children are learning?
According to the article Gary sighted, “For nearly 80 years, Bible stories have been taught in Mercer County as part of the regular school week and they’re extremely popular in the community.” The classes are so popular that 96 percent of the students in the county’s 19 elementary schools participate -- a fact lost on Jane Doe and the Freedom from Religion Foundation.
“Popular doesn’t mean legal” is their argument. But legal is legal and, according to a 2001 U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing religious organizations to create after-school activities in public school facilities, “Bible in the Schools” -- the program in question -- is perfectly legal. The Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution is pretty clear as well. If other organizations, religious or otherwise, are granted access to public facilities, churches must be granted access as well.
So if the class is legal, what is the issue? Are children being forced to attend that they might be indoctrinated in the “evils” of Christianity? No. Attendance is voluntary.
Are tax dollars being used to fund “Christian Fairy Tales”? No. Private donations pay for the program. So what’s the problem?
Apart from a Wisconsin-based lobby trying to burden the good people of West Virginia with its social agenda, there isn’t one. The parents of Mercer County should be able to send their children to Bible class at school. Those parents who don’t want their children to participate should be free to opt out. If, as has been alleged, there has been teasing or taunting, those incidents should be addressed appropriately. To each their own!
Gary’s Reply
“What’s the problem?” It’s simple. Mercer County is fostering social separation among young children. It is creating another level of segregation beyond those of gender and race, which are problematic enough for a six-year-old child. It’s easy for you and I to say “just opt out.” Opting out turns that child into a pariah among the overwhelming majority of her peers who have alternative beliefs. Actually, the religion class would be more tolerable in an environment comprised of a nationally representative mixture of belief systems.
In Mercer County’s world, you are either a Bible-bearing Christian or there is something wrong with you. Do you imagine these Christian parents would embrace equality in the form of also offering classes on Islam or Sikhism?
On top of that, this class is “taught as part of the regular school week,” not as an after-school program. That means that regardless of the funding source for the “teacher,” measurable school time and resources are being directed toward a class on Christianity in clear violation of laws separating church and state.
Bill’s Reply
“Each of us today should be concerned with eliminating or minimizing barriers to equality.” Gary, you are right and that’s the point. The law allows for equal access and people can’t be discriminated against because of their faith. If a school district allows other groups (e.g. Junior Achievement, Scouts, YMCA, etc.) access to students and/or school property, they have to give religious organizations the same access. This freedom extends to all religions.
The Satanic Temple of Portland recently started an “After School Satan” program at a local elementary school. Where is the hue and cry from the Freedom from Religion folks? There won’t be any. The issue for them and most secularists isn’t freedom from religion. The issue is freedom from Christianity.
Sadly, what so many secularists don’t remember is that Christians and other people of faith were among those who led the way in establishing public schools and breaking down barriers to equality. Theirs was a divine mandate. In a world where there is no God, there is no moral authority for equality and freedom.
Agree Statement
Bill and Gary agree that equality and the free exchange of ideas, both within the school setting and beyond are worthy goals for all of us. We both wish to see more resources directed toward all education in our country.