Paideia: Religious Education in the Public Schools

http://www.bu.edu/wcp/Papers/Soci/SociBart.htm

Religious Education in the Public Schools

Julia J. Bartkowiak
bartokowi@mail.clarion.edu

ABSTRACT: Recently, several authors have cited traditional liberal principles to argue that religious education must be offered in public schools in the United States of America. These authors claim that exposure to a variety of religious beliefs and traditions is a necessary means to attaining the two goals of providing children with "open futures" and encouraging tolerance of religious diversity. This paper contends that these arguments are seriously flawed, and provides reasons which demonstrate that, in practice, these two goals cannot be accomplished by religion courses in the public schools. Additionally, mandatory religion courses in the public schools appear to be unconstitutional and infringe on parental rights and freedom of religion. Consequently, the goals of a liberal state are best achieved by not offering religious education in the public schools.

http://www.bu.edu/wcp/Papers/Soci/SociBart.htm