 Public schools exist for the purpose of educating our children. Compulsory attendance laws were established because of the governmental belief that education was necessary to teach our children to be good citizens. Thus today we have a public school system.
From elementary, through secondary and on into higher education, schools have developed mission statements such as follows: (taken from Stony Lane School Mission Statement) Quote: |
Our mission (under the guidance of the North Kingstown School Department philosophy, goals, and objectives) is to serve the Stony Lane students and to foster their ability to develop as wholesome contributors to our community, the world, and most significantly to themselves.
| or (taken from Iowa State University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences) Quote: |
The primary mission of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is to prepare students to become knowledgeable, contributing citizens in a world of diverse cultures. Vital to the mission of the College is the discovery of new knowledge through teaching and learning, research and creative activity. The role of the College is to nurture and sustain the learning and understanding achieved.
| Eleanor Roosevelt wrote in the 1930's that the purpose of education was to raise good citizens. As such time and again we have heard how schools seek to have diversity, the political and social policy of encouraging tolerance for people of different backgrounds.
In order to dispel the myths of different cultures one must be able to understand the differences between cultures. Since religion plays an important role in developing ones culture it is only logical that schools teach about different religions.
Now understand, I am not interested in schools teaching the tenets of faiths. However, it is important that schools teach the differences between different religions. Children need to understand that these differences do exist. It is also important for children to understand the role that religion plays in history. Including the role of religion in the founding of this country, the Abolitionist movement, the Civil Rights Movement and at other times.
We live in a global world, as such our children will encounter people of different faiths regularly. It is imporant for them to understand the faith of others, for it will lead them to be more tolerant of differences. Parents should teach their children the faith that they believe, the school should not, however, do not confuse educating our children about religion with teaching them to be religious.
Should not our children understand the differences that lead the Muslim extremist to hate Jews? SHould they not be taught how Hitler interpretted Christianity to hate the Jew? And what of the role of Christianity in out country in the belief of converting the savages to God??
Without an understanding of religion we handicap our children.
dmk Conservatism, I repeat is not an ideology. It does not breed fanatics....But if you want men who seek, reasonably and prudently, to reconcile the best in wisdom of our ancestors with the change which is essential to a vigorous civil social existence, then you will do well to turn to conservative principles
-Russell Kirk- |