Can Religion Really be Taught in the Classroom?

Tuesday, February 22nd 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Some people believe that the answer to school violence is that religion should be studied in the classroom. But all too often, religion is kept out of the curriculum, because administrators say the U-S Constitution forbids it.

At Edison Prep Academy Tuesday, students learned more about their religious rights. Two lawyers talked with students, briefing them on how they can exercise their religious beliefs at school. But the information was not just for students. Earlier Tuesday morning, a group of teachers discussed how religion could add to the curriculum, giving studentsâ€™ context for ancient history.

Diana Plummer works in the Jenks school district. She's learning about how schools can encourage religious education, while not running afoul of the constitution. "And it says, Congress shall make no laws regarding the establishment of religion," Plummer said.

However, religious education is constitutional, when taught in the proper context. "The kind of advice we give is to make sure you're being objective and academic,â€ said Freedom Forum spokesperson Marcia Beauchamp. â€œAnd that you have an academic reason for including whatever it is that you include. We try to help teachers understand how they can teach about religion in a way that is neutral and protects the conscious of all the children and the parents who are sending their children to the school,â€ she said.

Diana Plummer knows how it's done. She created a biblical literature class that is popular with students. "I was very fortunate,â€ she said. â€œI never had any negative feedback on the course, and it is an elective English course so students have the freedom to choose it or not. But the class has been primarily composed of students from all different religious backgrounds," Plummer continued.

That is one of the keys to staying within the bounds of the constitution, giving students a choice of taking religion classes. Students learned about how they can both exercise and express their religious beliefs, while respecting the diversity of religions that is becoming more common. Organizers hope by talking about different beliefs, students will develop a respect of other religions and other people.