Taking Religion To School

In the modern university, religion is often taken to school--primarily in the sense of being critiqued, disciplined, and domesticated. In this provocative book, Stephen Webb steps into the middle of current controversies about the place of religion in secular high schools and colleges. Speaking explicitly as a Christian theologian, but also as one who accepts the reality of religious pluralism, Webb argues that the teaching of religion is itself a religious activity, that teachers of religion should not disguise their own faiths in the classroom, and that high schools and universities should allow more--not less--space for religious voices.

The authors chart a middle course in our war over religion and public education, one that builds on a developing national consensus among educational and religious leaders. While it is not proper for schools to practice religion or proselytize, neither is it permissible to make them religion-free zones. Schools do not take religion seriously, as the authors' review of textbooks and the new national content standards makes clear. In Part One, they outline the civic, constitutional, and educational frameworks that should shape the treatment of religion in the curriculum and classroom. In Part Two, they explore major issues relating to religion in different domains of the curriculum in elementary education and in middle and high school courses in history, civics, economics, literature, and the sciences. They also discuss Bible courses and world religions courses and explore the relationship of religion to moral education and sex education. Note: This product listing is for the Adobe Acrobat (PDF) version of the book.

The authors chart a middle course in our war over religion and public education, one that builds on a developing national consensus among educational and religious leaders. While it is not proper for schools to practice religion or proselytize, neither is it permissible to make them religion-free zones. Schools do not take religion seriously, as the authors' review of textbooks and the new national content standards makes clear. In Part One, they outline the civic, constitutional, and educational frameworks that should shape the treatment of religion in the curriculum and classroom.In Part Two, they explore major issues relating to religion in different domains of the curriculum in elementary education and in middle and high school courses in history, civics, economics, literature, and the sciences. They also discuss Bible courses and world religions courses and explore the relationship of religion to moral education and sex education.

The purpose of this book is to illustrate the complexity of the social, cultural, and legal milieu of schooling in the United States in which the improvement of religious literacy and understanding must take place. Public education is the new commons.

Ten Commandments displays, prayer at football games, Bible in the curriculum, vouchers for tuition at religious schools, Pledge of Allegiance, wall of separation between church and state, among other hot button issues at the intersection of religion and education, generate a great deal of heat, but often light is sorely lacking. The Praeger Handbook of Religion and Education in the United States provides a unique source of light to educators, religious leaders, journalists, policy-makers, parents, and the general public as well as a useful resource for scholars interested in the impact of religion on the origins, development, and current shape of the American educational landscape. Following an introductory essay that surveys the relationship of religion to elementary and secondary education from the 1600s to the present, this set offers 175 entries written by more than 40 scholars with national reputations that cover a wide range of topics related to religion and education, both in the past and the present. These jargon-free entries are cross-referenced and provide suggestions for further reading. Readers who want to know what is behind the heat in current debates will find entries on: United States Supreme Court decisions on religion and education, current controversies regarding religion in the public schools, religious, legal, and educational associations involved in these controversies, religion and the curriculum, religious schools, individuals and movements that have affected the role of religion in education, and religion and education developments in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This one of a kind set also includes a convenient table summarizing all of the religious liberty decisions of the Supreme Court from 1815 to the present.

To help readers gain a better understanding of conflicts over the proper role of religion in American public schools, this book focuses on the seven major types of conflicts that have become particularly confrontational. Thomas does not take sides; rather, he lays out the arguments, their historical and cultural contexts, and the groups that debate them and their goals. Anyone wishing to gain a better understanding of the controversies surrounding religion in American schools will find here not just a review of the issues, but a deeper consideration of the causes, consequences, and future of the debates. Conflicts over the proper role of religion in schools-and particularly in public schools supported by tax monies-are frequently featured in news reports. For example, in the United States there currently are conflicts over the teaching of evolution, inserting the word God in the pledge of allegiance, conducting school holiday celebrations, posting the biblical Ten Commandments in schools, and praying at school functions. People who are interested in such controversies often-or, perhaps, usually-fail to understand the historical backgrounds to the conflicts and therefore do not recognize the very complex factors that affect why the controversies become so heated. To help readers gain a better understanding of such matters, this book focuses on the seven major types of conflicts that have become particularly confrontational during the first decade of the twenty-first century. The cases on which the chapters focus concern issues that currently are being hotly debated in America. Controversies are described in relation to their historical origins and the author shows how the history affects current understanding of the issues. Thomas does not take sides in the arguments; rather, he lays out the arguments, their historical and cultural contexts, and the groups that debate them and their goals. Anyone wishing to gain a better understanding of the controversies surrounding religion in American schools will be happy to find here not just a review of the issues, but a deeper consideration of the causes, consequences, and future of the debates and the role of religion in our public schools.

Most public schools avoid teaching their students about religion, and university students must enroll in religious studies courses in order to learn about it. Warren Nord shows that these practices are not religiously neutral; in fact, they border on secular indoctrination. Nord uses an examination of textbooks to make a case for the study of religion in schools and universities, and explains how such study came to be neglected. He makes a number of arguments for taking religion seriously in the curriculum: most importantly, that a liberal education and critical thinking require it, as does moral education. There are also civic reasons for taking religion seriously, and constitutional religious neutrality requires it. What is to be done? Nord proposes a two-part solution to the problem. First, he argues for a required religion course in both high schools and universities. Second, he contends that religion must become a field within secondary education. He concludes by showing how religion could be taken seriously within the main subject areas of the curriculum. Nord's goal is not just to understand conflicts in our culture wars, but to propose a solution that is theoretically sound and practical and can be implemented by incremental steps in the right direction.

"Taking God to School" is a work of bold heart and pure faith. Written in simple text and illustrated by the author in pictures in the style of classroom "Writer's Workshop" drawings, it presents children's rights to practice their faith and beliefs throughout the day- especially at school! Separation of Church and State has been quoted and used inaccurately to discourage and at times prohibit families and students from demonstrating their faith and their rights to freedom of religion. Children can say grace, privately pray, include God and Jesus in their writing, bring and read their Bibles at school! In a world in need of bringing faith back into homes and schools, may this book help educate teachers, families and students while spreading God's glorious love as He walks with you through each moment of every day! Alison Adams is a passionate child of God and an experienced elementary education and early childhood teacher. In her over 25 years of teaching, she taught in private, charter and public-school settings. In her classrooms she has always demonstrated her faith and love of Christ openly and lovingly by her living example and through songs, stories, service projects and the inclusion of all families and students' values, beliefs and traditions. She proudly served as the sponsor of a student-led faith and Bible study group- F.I.S.H. (F-faith, I-inspiration, S-service, H-hope) - the only club of its kind in the area. She has been a champion and supporter of student and families' religious rights and freedom and worked to change school and district policies to support them. She now lives happily on a 10-acre farm in Keene, NH with her husband, chickens and dogs which she counts among her many blessings.