On January 16th, President Trump signed a new guidance in honor of National Religious Freedom Day,stating that students and staff can share their faith with one another. This contradicted the 1962 ban of school sponsored prayers. There have been many incidents where school sponsored prayer has had to be broken up because of the ban, yet none of the participants had objected, meaning that it’s quite probable that none of them minded. Although this is not true in all instances, if they have a problem with it they can simply step out or not participate until it’s over. It finds a happy medium for those who wish to practice their faith, but doesn’t force it upon anyone who doesn’t want to learn about any kind of religion, whether it’s because their beliefs are different or because they don’t believe in a higher power. However, in this day and age it is encouraged to find your way, whatever it is, no matter how different. When your raised in one household you often see one belief. Having this at school shows students many different faiths, exposing them to many different beliefs. With this they don’t have to shy away from asking someone about their beliefs. This opens up a whole other world for them that they might find what they’ve been missing from. It also shows students how people all have a different way of life, which could lead to less discrimination if it’s not frowned upon in a school setting. I can say that I’ve had experience with students inquiring about my faith and trying to explain it to them in a way that I can’t get in trouble for “influencing” someone who asked about it because teachers could be in legal trouble for letting it continue. I personally think that this new guidance is a great idea and quite refreshing. It does not pressure anyone into anything, allows people to express their beliefs without care, and exposes students to other ways of life that they might find beneficial.
Questions:
- What is your opinion on the new guidance?
I think the new guidance is great. As I stated in my writing, it doesn't force beliefs on anyone, lets students and staff express their faith, yet introduces people to new, possibly beneficial, ways of life. It also shows people everyday life for someone in a public setting starting at a young age, so when they're in the real world and see someone's way of life they won't be as freaked out if they hadn't seen something the same or along the same lines at a young age, leading to possibliy less discrimination in the long run. - What kind of issues do you think might arise with the new guidance?
I feel like some students will probably feel unintended pressure to participate in a religious practice that they don't belive in. Also some authoritive figures could abuse this new privledge. Even pushy students could make this unpleasant for their peers by pressuring everyone else to feel the same or be offended if someone doesn't join them in prayer. - Do you feel that someone sharing their personal beliefs or inviting you to pray with them would be a bad thing or influence your own beliefs? Elaborate.
In my opinion I think that it's a positive thing for people to be expressing themselves, but should not pressure their opinions or beliefs on you or anyone else. As long as I was not looked at as judgemental if I politely declined or told them that I felt differently and was judged for it I'd be just fine with it.
Link: https://www.foxnews.com/faith-values/trump-prayer-school-public-guidance
Replies
Excellent summary Katie and super job overall!
I think it is good so school dont have to try and block out things that maybe a little religious in presentations or notes to try and not "force the religion onto others." I think some issues might be that people wont take it serious and go around saying things that would be rude to some people and they would just say its part of their religion. I don't think it would be bad depending on how serious it gets because just getting invited to pray would exactly mess with your religion (unless it did in some way)
This is true. Having this presence in school is just as strong as having politics legally talked about in school. Of course it is something that teachers are not supposed to influence people with, and from my experience none try to, but every once in a while something slips out, and that could influence a student just like religion could. It's up to you to form your own belief standards just like it's up to you to form your own political veiws. Everyone will always throw in their veiws and you just have to chose what's yours.
I believe if you invite someone to pray with them it is a good thing. Someone might be confused about their own faith and what they believe in. You could help guide them to a belief that they would like or believe in. It could influence your beliefs but if it helps you find your faith it is definetly beneficial to you.
That is another wounderful thing about it. Not only does it allow people to express themselves completely, but in certain cases they can help people in a life changing way, with little effort. And this is one person's belief. No one says you have to take any of their specific ideas and add them to your own.
I think that new guidance is good for everyone because the people that wish to whare their religion with other can do so freely, and it doesn't really affect anyone negativly. I think that some kids will get bullied by the other students based on their beliefs because that is just the way kids are.
I completely agree. Everything has a downside to almost everything in life and you just have to take the good with the bad. In this case the bad is judgement of peers, but if you think about it you can get this with just about anything you show any induviduality with.
I think that if someone with a different religion invites you to pray with them i feel that it would affect you in a negative way because you may not agree with them during there praying you could start an argument between the two of you.
This could totally be an issue. I think that most people would just politely decline, although this is not the case for everyone. Because it's in a school facility those problems would probably be sorted out with supervision in a safe setting. That's the benefit of having this in a school building.
I agree with the new guidance, but there could be some issues, like people believeing different faiths. And this could lead to bullying or harrasment due to one person believeing this and the other believeing that. Its a good idea, but it could go very bad very quick.
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