Do you think that religion should be allowed in school?

[Suzuku]

Thats just the problem. I feel like the topic isn't covered enough. It seems as if teachers quickly skim that section to avoid conflicts. And I think that has a lot to do with it. Humanities and History are required, so they have to cover the required amount of the topic. They rush it along because some kids are just itching to cause problems, and they don't want to deal with it. If it was its own class, students could choose wether or not to take it. If the subject fit into the state curriculum, it would be payed for by the government.

There is a reason for separation of church and state in this country. No government fundings for teachings of specific religion. The most I would feel comfortable with is a Theology course, where they teach all religions and not just a specific one.

[krexia]

Are you familiar with preventing history from repeating itself?

With so many wars beginning as religious conflicts, can you really say that an understanding of religion isn't equally important to understanding and preventing conflict?

I could say that history is factual while religion isn't, but that might piss some people off.

It's absolutely factual to say that religion has a significant influence on the lives of the vast majority of the world's population.

However, randomly teaching religion? Disregarding the funding and the constitutionality of it, what would be the point?

First of all, what do you think is the point of teaching history? Why is knowing what happened in the past important?

In my view history is important firstly because it gives context and background to the modern world, and secondly because it gives insights into human behaviour. I'd argue that an understanding of religion is at least as important for these things - for example that an understanding of the basics of Christianity is necessary background for understanding many of the big political debates in western countries, and that an understanding of Islam and Judaism is necessary to understanding unrest in the Middle East.

I don't think there's any point in learning religion just because, but nor do I believe there's any point in learning history just because. As you say, public schools have limited funding - classes should be geared towards knowledge that's useful in the modern world, and if people want to learn trivia about ancient Sumer, or about Wiccan practices, they can do that in their own time.

But I believe learning the basics of Islam is more important for schoolchildren than learning the timeline of the Roman Empire.

Then demand a Humanities class. There's no need to create a new semester-long class.

And what, cut down history, religion, and everything else to fit it into one class? No thanks. I'd rather have the humanities each covered separately and in more depth.

[Phoenix]

First of all, what do you think is the point of teaching history? Why is knowing what happened in the past important?

In my view history is important firstly because it gives context and background to the modern world, and secondly because it gives insights into human behaviour. I'd argue that an understanding of religion is at least as important for these things - for example that an understanding of the basics of Christianity is necessary background for understanding many of the big political debates in western countries, and that an understanding of Islam and Judaism is necessary to understanding unrest in the Middle East.

And it's my view that philosophy and cognitive neuroscience should also be taught in HS, but I recognize that they're better left for college.

I don't think there's any point in learning religion just because, but nor do I believe there's any point in learning history just because. As you say, public schools have limited funding - classes should be geared towards knowledge that's useful in the modern world, and if people want to learn trivia about ancient Sumer, or about Wiccan practices, they can do that in their own time.

But I believe learning the basics of Islam is more important for schoolchildren than learning the timeline of the Roman Empire.

I disagree. Entirely. Schools are the only thing that teach you about the past at that age. If HS doesn't teach you about Sumer, Persia and Rome, who will? Weneed historians, and if schools don't nurture this interest, we won't have any. History is, in of itself, a necessary class.

As for the basics of Islam, I'm not sure why you think it takes more than a day for an overview of it. You want to make a semester-long class? For God's sake, how would you fill that?

And what, cut down history, religion, and everything else to fit it into one class? No thanks. I'd rather have the humanities each covered separately and in more depth.

And I'd rather my science class spend a few weeks on Einstein's theories and not just a few days. So?

[Fortissimo]

There is a reason for separation of church and state in this country. No government fundings for teachings of specific religion. The most I would feel comfortable with is a Theology course, where they teach all religions and not just a specific one.

That's the type of class I'm talking about. Not "Preaching 101".


And, yes, people are capable of learning about other things that interest them in their own time, but not all sources are reliable. Besides, there are classes branched off a general history/humanities class for more in-depth information, so why not comparative religion?

And if the public schools aren't ready for a class like that, then yes they should pay more attention to history and humanities courses. Perhaps reform them to fit in a section or two about religion. The time given on the subject (at least where I am) was not enough to give a full understanding for those who lack information on other religions.

[Phoenix]

And, yes, people are capable of learning about other things that interest them in their own time, but not all sources are reliable.

College, then. You'll have about as much luck of that being reliable than with school.

Besides, there are classes branched off a general history/humanities class for more in-depth information, so why not comparative religion?

Which HS classes branched off of history/humanities?

And if the public schools aren't ready for a class like that, then yes they should pay more attention to history and humanities courses. Perhaps reform them to fit in a section or two about religion. The time given on the subject (at least where I am) was not enough to give a full understanding for those who lack information on other religions.

You're not supposed to gain a complete understanding; it's a HS class. They don't expect students to know quantum physics after graduating; understanding the basics of gravity is fine. By the same token, understanding everything about Christianity is not the point of a Humanities course; an overview about its effects on Western civilization is fine.

[Fortissimo]

At my school at least, we have a European history class. Its not a required class but it's available. So why not a comparative religion class? I feel that it would help in minimizing the ignorance and misunderstandings people have about other's faiths. It wouldn't hurt.

And true, high school classes don't need to have every aspect of a religion covered, but they should go into a little more detail then they are doing now.

[Phoenix]

Again, I'd like the science class to go more in-depth with Einstein, but we don't do it because it's high school. The money you want for a religion class could be used to improve existing classes, so yes, it would hurt. It's not win-win, that's money that could've been used to improve the math class. So far, nobody has provided a clear reason for a new class aside from "it sounds interesting".

[Fortissimo]

I can't argue with that. The education system really does need improving, and the classes that should be first on the list should be math, science, english and history. Hopefully in the future, they will be improved to a point where such topics are covered better. Though it won't matter to me because I will most likely be well out of school by then...