God in the Classroom: Religion and America's Public Schools

by R. Murray Thomas

Overview

To help readers gain a better understanding of conflicts over the proper role of religion in American public schools, this book focuses on the seven major types of conflicts that have become particularly confrontational. Thomas does not take sides; rather, he lays out the arguments, their historical and cultural contexts, and the groups that debate them and their goals. Anyone wishing to gain a better understanding of the controversies surrounding religion in American schools will find here not just a review of the issues, but a deeper consideration of the causes, consequences, and future of the debates.

Conflicts over the proper role of religion in schools-and particularly in public schools supported by tax monies-are frequently featured in news reports. For example, in the United States there currently are conflicts over the teaching of evolution, inserting the word God in the pledge of allegiance, conducting school holiday celebrations, posting the biblical Ten Commandments in schools, and praying at school functions. People who are interested in such controversies often-or, perhaps, usually-fail to understand the historical backgrounds to the conflicts and therefore do not recognize the very complex factors that affect why the controversies become so heated. To help readers gain a better understanding of such matters, this book focuses on the seven major types of conflicts that have become particularly confrontational during the first decade of the twenty-first century.

The cases on which the chapters focus concern issues that currently are being hotly debated in America. Controversies are described in relation to their historical origins and the author shows how the history affects current understanding of the issues. Thomas does not take sides in the arguments; rather, he lays out the arguments, their historical and cultural contexts, and the groups that debate them and their goals. Anyone wishing to gain a better understanding of the controversies surrounding religion in American schools will be happy to find here not just a review of the issues, but a deeper consideration of the causes, consequences, and future of the debates and the role of religion in our public schools.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780275991418
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	01/30/2007
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.69(d)

About the Author

R. Murray Thomas is professor emeritus at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Table of Contents

Introduction: As Seen from Here     1
Illustrative Conflicts over Religion in Schools     2
State, Religion, Secular Public, and Schools     9
Belief Constituencies     13
Traditions and Critical Events     14
Conclusion     15
From Then to Now     17
A Background Sketch     17
Trends of the Times, 1600-2007     52
Summary     55
God and Darwin     57
How the Controversy Developed     57
Guidelines for Educators     85
Curricula and Text Materials     87
How the Controversy Developed     88
Guidelines for Educators     112
Prayer and Scripture Reading     113
How the Controversy Developed     114
Guidelines for Educators     131
Holidays and Celebrations     133
How the Controversy Developed     133
Guidelines for Educators     148
Financial Support     151
How the Controversy Developed     151
Guidelines for Educators     170
The Pledge of Allegiance     173
How the Controversy Developed     173
Guidelines for Educators     187
Released Time and Clubs     189
How the Controversy Developed     189
Guidelines for Educators     201
Symbols and Maxims     203
How the Controversy Developed     204
Guidelines for Educators     218
Sexual Matters     219
How the Controversy Developed     219
Guidelines for Educators     235
State/Church/Secularists/Schools     237
The State     238
The Church     247
The Concerned Secular Public     249
The Public Schools     250
Conclusion     250
Notes     253
References     255
Name Index     273
Subject Index     277

Editorial Reviews

Thomas looks at controversies about religion in schools as an interaction between the perspectives of the state, the church, secularists or the concerned secular public, and public schools. The controversies he profiles include Darwin, prayer and scripture reading, financial support, holidays, and sexual matters.

Reference and Research Book News

Tells the history of several current controversies, such as prayer in schools, with guidelines for educators on navigating them legally.

Education Week

Thomas attempts to show how religious interests intersect with the contemporary American public school. After a brief introduction and a chapter that details the history of religion in education, the book takes the form of a straightforward, issue by issue analysis of religion in education. The historical development of each issue (e.g., Darwinism, school prayer, release time for religious activities) is described, followed by a depiction of the current political landscape of a given issue, and an explanation of the kinds of arguments which are made about various issues. The book is well written, and comes across as an informative and straightforward approach to delineate a range of religious/educational issues. In this sense, it is a good starting point for any student or scholar who is interested in gaining a basic understanding of religion and education in America.... the text makes this survey of the role of religion in public schools very accessible to a range of readers. Recommended. All levels.

Choice Reviews

Thomas attempts to show how religious interests intersect with the contemporary American public school. After a brief introduction and a chapter that details the history of religion in education, the book takes the form of a straightforward, issue by issue analysis of religion in education. The historical development of each issue (e.g., Darwinism, school prayer, release time for religious activities) is described, followed by a depiction of the current political landscape of a given issue, and an explanation of the kinds of arguments which are made about various issues. The book is well written, and comes across as an informative and straightforward approach to delineate a range of religious/educational issues. In this sense, it is a good starting point for any student or scholar who is interested in gaining a basic understanding of religion and education in America.... the text makes this survey of the role of religion in public schools very accessible to a range of readers. Recommended. All levels.

Choice

Thomas attempts to show how religious interests intersect with the contemporary American public school. After a brief introduction and a chapter that details the history of religion in education, the book takes the form of a straightforward, issue by issue analysis of religion in education. The historical development of each issue (e.g., Darwinism, school prayer, release time for religious activities) is described, followed by a depiction of the current political landscape of a given issue, and an explanation of the kinds of arguments which are made about various issues. The book is well written, and comes across as an informative and straightforward approach to delineate a range of religious/educational issues. In this sense, it is a good starting point for any student or scholar who is interested in gaining a basic understanding of religion and education in America.... the text makes this survey of the role of religion in public schools very accessible to a range of readers. Recommended. All levels.

CHOICE