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.