By: Taylor Osborne
Religion and creation theory should not be taught as a subject in schools for many reasons. Firstly, religion will not assist students in getting a career in Canada’s manufacturing and service industry based economy.
The most popular jobs in Canada today revolve around trades and manufacturing businesses. Examples of these jobs include Facility Manager, Various Engineering positions, Accounting clerk, Contract specialist, Programs assistant and Technical buyer just to name a few. Meanwhile, the most common religion based jobs in Canada are Chaplain, Assistant Chaplain, Pastor, and Court Pastor. These jobs are less likely to be chosen by youth unless they are brought up in a religious home and typically if their family has been involved with a church for the majority of their life.
Secondly, I believe religion shouldn’t be taught in schools because it creates a divide in local schools by having separate school boards for public, catholic and christian schools. This limits the number of schools competing in sports, music and extra-curricular activities and events.
Senator Phillip A. Hart from Michigan said, “I’m a Catholic and I hope a devout one, but I think that the public school classroom is no place for me to try and impose my world formula for prayer on children who don’t share it, and for that very reason, I don’t want my children in a public school classroom to be exposed to someone else’s religion or formula.” Mr. Hart says he believes everyone should have freedom to have his or her own beliefs and that other people’s religious views should not be forced upon others, especially children.
Although we don’t teach religion in public school, still many non-religious students or students who practice alternative religions, are going to catholic schools because it is closer to their home and was the high school assigned to them after graduating grade eight. This is forcing them to comply to the school’s curriculum which enforces students to participate in religious activities and courses. In a globe and mail article they wrote: “Catholic schools can require students to participate in religious programs – not just courses, but also liturgies and retreats” Also “Catholic schools in Ontario are requiring students to take religious courses despite a recent court decision that ruled they can’t be forced to attend.” This is an outright defiance of the law and is morally wrong to force someone to participate in religion-based courses and practices against their will regardless of their personal beliefs.
Therefore, religion should not be taught in schools, and should be practiced in churches, at home, or wherever it is appropriate and does not force others to be a part of its teachings and activities without their consent. Religious schools should provide an alternative for students who do not wish to partake in religious courses or ceremonies etc. and transportation should be provided for students who live farther than walking or biking distance from public schools so they are not forced to attend a religious school.