Title: Religion In Public Schools | Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Headings: Religion In Public Schools
Religion In Public Schools
Parents & students should make their own decisions about religion.
The separation of church and state ensures that:
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Content: Religion In Public Schools | Americans United for Separation of Church and State
Religion In Public Schools
Parents & students should make their own decisions about religion. Parents should feel comfortable sending their children to public schools and not fear that they will be preached to or forced to pray according to someone else’s faith tradition. Students may engage in truly voluntary prayer, may read the Bible in a non-disruptive way and may form religious clubs that meet after school—but it has to be their choice. They can also talk to fellow students about religion, so long as it isn’t harassing. But public schools may not pressure students to engage in prayer or other religious activities. The separation of church and state ensures that: Public schools can teach, but not preach, about religion. Public schools may instruct students about religion in an even-handed, objective manner, such as discussing the impact of religion on history, art, music and literature, or teaching a course on comparative religion. But they may not teach religiously based curriculum. Sound science and history is taught in public schools.