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Alissa Anderson

Orientation to Education 1010

Ms. Giddings

6/2/2017
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CHAPTER 4 ASSIGNMENT

I would like to address the contemporary issue of the use of religion in the classroom. As

I was reading through the chapter there was a specific section that explained that as colonials

were taught in school that religion was used to help children stay morally on track. It was

used to motivate children to be more responsible and to live with integrity, not just in the

classroom but in life.

During the colonial period, the U.S. had been declared as a Christian nation. I find it

interesting that the three main religions listed in the chapter are all Christian. I believe that

Christianity had a strong influence on the development of the U.S. at the time. The chapter

clearly explains that the Constitution gave the power of these matters to each state to decide

how to separate religion in school.

A wonderful example of this idea is the Pledge of Allegiance. There was a sermon that

was attended by President Eisenhower in which the officiator explained that our Nation was

unique from other nations because of our belief in a God. The President agreed and a few

weeks later Senator Ferguson sent a Bill to add under God the Pledge. I am writing about

the Pledge of Allegiance because it is the only examples of religion I can ever remember

when I was attending school. Furthermore, in certain states, we no longer say the Pledge of

Allegiance due to the decision made in 2002 by a panel of Judges that declared the pledge to

be unconstitutional because of this phrase. Not only do I disagree but I strongly feel that

religion has a significant impact on a child education. I remember saying the pledge as a

child and thinking about God and how he would be aware of the decisions I made that day.

For this reason, I did not want to cheat. I would have this thought just from saying the

pledge.
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Religious thinking has benefits of allowing a student to inquire and collaborate when

science is taught when debates take place and so much more. I strongly feel that if we could

talk about any and all religions more children have a better idea of the importance of moral

standards. Most religions generally value the same ideas; family, honesty, and independence.

Religion gives students an outline of who they are, and eliminates much of the insecurity that

is felt by most youth today. Just think about the impact of what that can have for students all

over!

In schools, today they recently have changed Christmas Break to Winter Break and

Easter Break to Spring Break. I can see how in the last dozen years alone, government

has tried to eliminate any trace of religion at all.