Student Religious Practices

"Nothing in the First Amendment converts our public schools into religious-free zones, or requires all religious expressions to be left behind at the schoolhouse doors." While this statement is true there needs to be a fine line between the separation of church and state. If the laws set in the constitution separate church and state, schools must as well. Religion should not be kept out of school completely, but in public schools there should be no religious requirements. As the article states, religion is not a problem is at school if the individual does not disturb their learning process. Another article about school prayer states "This idea that government is forbidden from instructing, guiding or even encouraging people towards any particular form of religious worship is at the core of modern establishment-clause jurisprudence. It is important to note that the violation of the establishment clause is not based on someone’s being offended or being able to avoid the prayers, but instead on the government’s involvement in and active promotion of a religious activity." Ultimately it is up to the students and their parents to practice whatever religion in whatever manner they want, but the school should not have to acknowledge private or individual religion. Public schools already allow time to pray during lunch or free periods, but just as people have the freedom of religion people also have to freedom to not be religious. It is important for public schools to acknowledge all different types of religion and to make sure that their students are educated because as the First Amendment Center states "Nowhere is it more important — or more difficult — to address our growing ideological and religious diversity than in the public schools." Also as stated in the article this issue has been around for hundreds of years and it is very complex. There is no right answer, it is just essential to not only not deny students their freedom to religion but also not force students to practice or to have a religion.

7 Days in September

The images in the documentary "7 Days in September" were devastating to say the least. I have seen a lot of footage from September 11th, but not ones like in the documentary. I have never seen footage so terrible on American soil, it was shocking. I was trying to picture what it would be like to live there, or what it would be like if that happened in Chicago and for me it is hard to see how the citizens of New York were not cowarding in fear all night and day. It amazed me how the city even six months later came together for support and for help. When they showed the cars that were lined up waiting to drop of donated supplies is when the courage of the city really hit me. New York did not let the extremest take anything important from them. Yes, they put their city in ruins but they did not break, instead they stood strong together. It amazes me how people change within a community in times of trouble. While patriotism seems at a loss sometimes it is good to know that there are always people there for support.