Separation of Church and State (Entry 2)

Politics and religion have always been touchy subjects of debate and argument.  Several precedent court cases for religion and the separation of it from government sponsored events, buildings, and figures are constantly being contested.  The "Religions in Schools" article and the "Gobitas" case both involve strong beliefs and interpretations of religion being used in a school.

The "West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette" set a precedence that students are not required to pledge to the United States flag.  Although I feel strongly about our country, freedoms, and what our flag represents, I also feel strong about our great freedoms that we have.  Our constitution grants the right to a freedom of religion and freedom of speech.  Along with this right, if a student interprets the flag as an idol, they have the freedom to not pledge to it.  Having family members who currently serve in the United States military and as a social studies teacher, I will never stop getting goosebumps saluting our flag during the morning announcements each day.

In the "Religions in Schools" article, biologists want to scrap any debate that questions the validity of Darwin's Theory of Evolution.  However, many people in society argue that if schools teach evolution, it should also be taught that there is debate to the theory.  Because theory is not fact, some states, such as Texas feel that it should be noted in the curriculum and teacher lectures that creationism is another perspective.  Just as sociology, geography, and history teachers have the five major world religions in Tennessee textbooks, I feel that alternative views such as creationism should dually be noted in biology textbooks.  Although I'm a Christian, I'm not basing my decision upon my own faith.  I believe that if the biology teacher explains to the students that multiple ideas and theories exists, as to the creation of mankind.  The school is not necessarily promoting a certain religion or pressing a religion on any student, they're simply teaching that on a global basis, a large majority of people believe in creationism and discredit evolution.