Lesley-Anne+Chatterpaul

Religion in Schools: All or Nothing
Written By: Lesley-Anne Chatterpaul

//__**Background Story**__// The Principle at Meadowvale Secondary School, my hometown school, in Mississauga Ontario denied a group of students their right to practice their religious beliefs on school property. The head of a student group approached the principle to ask permission for a group of Christians within the school could have a room in which they could get together with one another. The “get together” would most likely consist of socializing, snack and some form of small bible study. Any student, Christian or non- Christian would be allowed to come to these weekly events and nothing would be forced upon anyone. When the principle heard what the student had to say, she swiftly replied that she could not grant him his request because she was afraid that others would be offended with their presence as a group in the school. Although Meadowvale Secondary School was not known for their extra-curricular activities or Christian alliances, there were other religious and free rights groups that were allowed to have meetings and events on school grounds.

__//**Introduction**//__ This is just a basic situation to pose the following question: should all religious and free rights groups be able to expression their beliefs on school property? Do schools have the right to deny any religious group the freedom to express their faith or beliefs? Many people are torn about this issue because the world is such a diverse place that hosts many different religious beliefs. In the situation mentioned above, the students were not granted the right to have a religious group on school grounds and the only explanation that the students received from the principle was that their presence as a group would possibly offend the other students at Meadowvale Secondary School. Next we will find out if the school board permits religious expression in its secular schools, specifically in the Peel District School Board. We will be taking a look at how religious expression can take place on holidays, in everyday circumstances, what is allowed in schools and how teacher and educators are expected to deal with “religious group” situations.

__//**Religious Expression On Religious Holidays**//__ Here, we will look at religious expression specifically on religious holidays. The Peel District School board has very strict rules regarding any kind of religious expression in the secondary schools within the Peel district. In regards to celebrating religious holidays the peel district board states, “The Peel District School Board recognizes that not everyone commemorates or celebrates the same special faith/religious days. Therefore, an inclusionary approach to faith/religious traditions and celebration is recommended” (Peel Board of Education). The school board knows that everyone does not share the same religious beliefs and they have recommended that schools carefully approach different faith based holidays. They have made accommodations for all different types of religions in schools.

__//**Student Rights**//__ "No pupil in a public school shall be required to read or study in or from a religious book, or to join in an exercise of devotion in religion, objected to by his/her parent or guardian, or by the pupil, where he/she is an adult" (Peel Board of Education). This part of the education act implies that students should be permitted to have their own faith-based groups; they simply cannot force anyone else to participate in faith-based activities against their will. In the Human Ontario Rights Code, the following rule has been set in place, “Every person has a right to equal treatment with respect to the services, goods and facilities, without discrimination because of race, ancestry, place of origin, color, ethnic background, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family status or handicap” (Peel Board of Education). The Human Ontario Rights Code is very determined to treat every person, no matter who they are, equally. This clause is also a part of the previous section but it was mentioned seperatly: “The Ontario Human Rights Code requires that reasonable requests be accommodated. In addition, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms states that everyone has the fundamental freedom of 'conscience and religion.' However, court rulings have provided that staff and students of other faiths shall not be compelled or imposed upon with respect to faith/religion”(Peel Board of Education).

__//**What the United States have done**//__ In the United States, there have also been similar debates about religious expression in schools. A group called the Americans United for Separation of Church and State formulated a questionnaire to address the most frequently asked questions about faith and school. This questionnaire pamphlet is targeted to what appears to be the Christian faith in public schools; however, the answers are still relevant. Some of the questions asked were; are religious groups allowed on school grounds and what restrictions can be placed on them while they are meeting on school grounds? The questionnaire stated that it was generally permitted for religious groups to meet on school grounds but it depends on the school's policy of allowing student clubs (Americans United for Separation of Church and State). It talks about The Equal Access Act (EAA) was passed by Congress in 1984 that prevents discrimination against student groups of all kinds in public secondary schools (Americans United for Separation of Church and State). The questionnaire also describes that student religious groups must be solely student run, they must take place before or after school hours, outsiders that are not a part of the school may not attend regularly and it may not be a group run my community churches as an attempt to convert; these are the restrictions place on American students running religious extra-curricular activities in their schools.

__//**Other Opinions**//__ There are many sites where people can place their own information, ideas, opinions and facts about religion in school. Ronald Huereca wrote an article addressing the presence of religion in schools and how this affects teachers, students and institutions. The facts are as follows: children are allowed to pray in schools but a teacher may not participate in the prayer, teachers are to remain neutral in a school setting and on a whole public schools permit a student to quietly express their faith in any way they wish but the school itself is to remain neutral, not endorsing any religion or faith (Huereca). It is plain to see that religious expression is permitted in schools, but the institutions themselves can have no part in it because it creates a tricky situation for the educators. It is very clear that students are free to express their faith in their schools. It is also clear that they may not impose their faith on anyone else and they are not permitted to discriminate against other faiths. Although it was mentioned above that school authorities are to remain neutral, they may not discriminate against any religious group who wishes to pray or be part of a specific religious group activity. “While school authorities may impose rules of order and pedagogical restrictions on student activities, they may not discriminate against student prayer or religious speech in applying such rules and restrictions” (Ed Government).

__//**Conclusion**//__ We have been presented with many facts in regards to religious expression in schools. I have chose to focus mainly on what is allowed, and on some opinions of authors. The information is here: The Peel Board of Education allows students the right to express themselves religiously in schools, then why is it that all peel schools do not follow the rules? I cannot tell you what to think about this issue, but I can present the real and honest facts.

“School Policies.” Http://www.peelschools.org/departments/sch-serv/ops/ss/ss_10.htm. 30 Aug. 1999. The Peel District School Board. 3 Feb. 2009. _ “Religious Expression in Public Schools.” Http://www.holysmoke.org/hs00/schools.htm. Americans United For Separation of Church and State. 04 Feb. 2009. _ “Religion in Public Schools.” Http://www.ronalfy.com/2007/01/28/religion-in-public-schools/. 28 Jan. 2007. Ronafy.com. 04 Feb. 2009. _ “Guidance on Constitutionally Protected Prayer in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools." Http://www.ed.gov/print/policy/gen/guid/religionandschools/prayer_guidance.html. 15 Sept. 2003. Government of Canada. 04 Feb. 2009. //_//
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