Students can lead religious activities

[sandnsea]

I am soooo tired of people perpetuating the myth that students can't be religious at school. YES, students can have religious clubs. YES, students can pray silently in the classroom. YES, students can write papers that reflect their religious beliefs if it meets the requirements of an assignment. YES, students can organize and lead voluntary prayers outside the classroom.

Students cannot preach to a captive audience in the classroom or at a school sponsored event. They cannot turn a school sponsored event into a religous event, a la a completely religious Christmas pageant. Teachers cannot do anything related to religion, except provide adult supervision.

That's the way it is. You may not like it or think it's right, but that's still the way it is. You may not have known that's the way it is, but it's still the way it is. It doesn't appear Barack Obama knows that's the way it is, but that is STILL the way it is.

Is that the way it is because I say so? No. That's the way it is because the courts have said so.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. One thing teachers can do, I believe

is to make students aware that people practice different religions in different parts of the world. When I last taught in the early 90s, such information was in the social studies textbook. I took the time to explain about different types of prayer and we even did a dance honor Kwan Yin, the Bodisatva of Compassion (I was invited to a classroom to lead the dance and tell a bit about Buddhism). As long as it was shown as culture, and you were merely giving out information, it was ok---and I thought it rather great that I was allowed to share this in one of the reddest school district s in Arkansas.

[sandnsea]

3. Sure, for educational purposes

My kids had some information on various religions in their textbooks too. I thought that was good because it is important to study the influence of religion on historic events and current cultural differences as well.

[lapfog_1]

2. Not only that, but I hear a rumor that they can ACTUALLY

attend the religious services and functions of THEIR CHOICE! At times of their own choosing even.

:sarcasm: