Religious and the Public Schools - Essay Example

It is not legally problematic for to try out various religious practices like chanting, praying, meditating or dancing for as long as it is being undertaken under the ambit of academic pursuit. It only becomes problematic when students are required or compelled to practice a particular religion or when a certain class became sectarian or leaning towards a particular religion. Trying out various religious practices like chanting, praying, meditating or dancing is no different than trying out or experimenting how certain chemicals will react in chemistry class if it is of course done through academic inquiry.

Just like in chemistry class where experiment is part of learning, students will have a first-hand experience about religious practices by trying them out. There is an aspect about learning which is experiential which means that some things are better learned by experiencing them. Trying religious practices to better understand them better is one of them. The danger in this practice is that the teacher may be partial to a certain religion that he or she may require the students to practice and adopt a particular religion.

It can however be prevented if academic objectivity is maintain during the try out. What the law is guarding the school from is partisan religion where students will be required to practice and adopt a particular religion. Schools are secular institutions which prohibits the dominance of a particular religion in its class. It can allow however, trying out or experimenting various religious practices to satisfy an academic inquiry.