Religious Issue facing Schools

Religious Issue facing Schools

Introduction

Religious issues are becoming prevalent at all the levels whether it is a formal institution, an educational institution or a governmental institution. Schools at present are facing a number of the religious issues that bring about a challenging situation for all the stakeholders (students, parents and the school administration) related to a context. This paper will take into consideration the religious issue of ["under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance] that the schools are facing. It also takes into account the debate over the issue along with the demonstration of the way Ennis Middle School is dealing and managing the issue in the institution.

Discussion

Brief Overview of the issue

United States Pledge of Alliance serves as a mark of loyalty to the federal flag and to the republic of United States of America. It was originally composed in the year 1892 by Christian Socialist Francis Bellamy and the Congress in the year 1942 adopted this as a pledge. It has been for a number of times modified and refined after the composition. However, the most recent change took place in the year 1954 by the addition of the words “under God”_ an issue debatable up till present (Moyers, 2002.) The pledge is recited in all governmental meetings both at the local and private, organizational levels. At the schools, the pledge is often recited at the beginning of each school day. Supreme Court has demonstrated that students are not compelled to recite the pledge.

The United States Flag Code demonstrates the following words for the Pledge of Alliance “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

The Flag Code demonstrates that the reciter should stand straight, has his or her eyes towards the flag and must put his or her right hand over the heart (US Code of Conduct).

Debate over the issue

The item that is debatable is the Pledge of Alliance phrase “under one God”. This debate revolves around a number of questions. The main questions relevant to the debate include, whether it has the consistency with the separation of the church, or it brings an establishment of Clause in the United States Constitution? Does the Pledge render some favor to a singular belief or religion? Does it provide favor to the believers over the non-believers? Does the pledge represent and concentrates more on the historical expression rather than the religious expression or prayer? Does the phrase represent a feeling of patriotism among the Americans or the patriotism can still be expressed without the use of words “under one God”? In the context of schools, the debate is on the issue that whether the phrase “Under God” pressurizes the students in schools to profess a belief and faith in God? Is it causing coercion? The debaters keep on raising issues and talks that whether getting rid of “under God” bring about peace or ...