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The United States is a secular nation. This means that religion does not take prevalence in public institutions, from the government to public schools. Some argue that the United States was founded on religious beliefs; therefore it is no surprise that religion was once prevalent in schools prior to the 20th century. The religion was largely protestant, until Catholic beliefs became more predominant with the immigration of citizens from largely Catholic nations such as Italy and Ireland.
During the 1960s, the U.S. Supreme Court made decisions in regards to religion and public schools. The United States is diverse in every way, including religious beliefs. Fighting over religion in public schools is not only distracting and offensive to opposing religious organizations, but it takes away from what the children are there to learn.
Therefore, religious practices are not endorsed in public schools. However, this does not mean that children are outlawed from such practices as praying. Secularism just means that a public institution cannot force a particular religion upon you. Schools cannot make you pray or conform to any religious practices. The theory of Creationism is also banned in public schools, due to its links to Christianity. Some public schools do however have after-school religious programs.
Although some of the secular teachings might offend your religious beliefs in public schools, you must bear in mind that the role of public education is not to endorse any particular religion. If religion is a priority for your family in terms of your child’s education, you might want to consider other options besides public schools. This includes going to a private school, though this type of education venue can become quite costly. If you are considering private schooling for your child, look into forms of financial aid such as scholarships. Also keep in mind that these schools are not regulated by the government and make lack some funding that public schools receive. Home schooling is another option for parents that want to affiliate their religious beliefs within education for their children.
