Some values obviously apply in both religious and non-religious contexts: proscriptions against murder, theft, child abuse, etc. Other values apply only within a religious context: prayer, bible study, etc.
The problem occurs when people try to extend those values which only apply in their religious setting into public schools, where people with other religious values are sending their kids. Which sets of values should be taught?
"A casual stroll through the lunatic asylum shows that faith does not prove anything." - Friedrich Nietzsche
There is a difference between excluding values from a setting entirely and from teaching based on those values in the classroom. I have no problems with religious clubs at school for things like lunchtime prayer or reasonable accommodations for religious beliefs - wearing of religious symbols provided they aren't weapons for instance.
But a school should cater to all its users not just the majority. There is no consistent way of teaching based on a specific faith that caters to every faith in the classroom. The way many nations have solved this problem is through the use of a secular school system.
If you want faith based teaching you can get it in a private school. I don't see why the burden is on the government to provide teaching based on the values of your specific faith in a public education system. This would be very problematic to run if they had to provide it for every single faith and would probably be the definition of large government.
I went to a private school. I am here to tell you that the only time there was any "faith based" based teaching was during the religion class.
All other subjects were taught based on the science of the subject!
I have never advocated for faith based teaching. To assert so is to introduce your own personal bias into the discussion. Please try to refrain from doing so as I make effort to be specific in what I say.
I will give credit for you apparent acceptance of various students differing desires, "I have no problems with religious clubs at school".
They don't except when those religious values don't match mine.
And expecially not when a percentage of those "values" are arbitrary and misrepresented as being holy.
I'll always fall back (because I'm petty that way) on the "societal abuse" I took in school for eating meat on Fridays. A religious value of piety based on a bribe the then Pope took from the Genoese fishing cartel. But I had to endure as a child because I wasn't raised to believe JC died for "my" sins... sins like eating a bologna sandwich on a Friday.
THAT's why your religious values have no place in an American (meaning USA) school.
The Wizard of Ahhhhhhhs
Chief Magistrate - Emerald City
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