Assignment 1 Task 1

Is it ok for students to express religious beliefs in class discussions, or through assignments? If you were Brittany Settle you would probably answer “No”. Settle v. Dickson County School Board, 53 F. 3d 152 (6th Cir. 1995), Brittany’s assignment was a research paper and her topic was drama approved by her teacher, which she later changed, without approval, to “The Life of Jesus”. The teacher refused her paper and Brittany received a zero. The teacher gave six reasons why she refused Brittany’s paper. Court ruled that Brittany’s free speech was not violated, by having to abide by a teacher's curriculum, and the teacher has control over the curriculum and classroom.

7. In capitalism, most businesses have a profit motive. Describe at least one reason that businesses with a profit motive may be helpful for society and at least one reason that they may be harmful for society. Then, explain whether you think profit motive is a good thing or a bad thing for society. (4-7 sentences. 2.0 points)

The question of whether or not religion should be taught in public schools has been an ongoing debate among parents and teachers for decades. In the article “Religion and Education: The Pitfalls of Engaging a Complex Issue” Martin E. Marty and Jonathan Moore express their views on the matter. They express that religion in public schools could potentially bring conflict to families. They also support the other scenario that religion classes would inform students of the different beliefs of the people they will meet throughout their lives. Religion in the public school system is still an ongoing debate, one that needs to be resolved. The children that will be affected by the outcome of this debate are the future leaders of America, therefore, we should not take this decision lightly. Children everywhere and in all schools need to be taught about different religions so they can make a firm stand for what they believe in.

In schools, the place where Americans first learned critical fundamentals and values of freedom, religion is separated from home life to school life. In the United States, 89% of public school teacher’s cannot lead a class in prayer, 36% can teach a class comparing religions in different countries, and only 23% can read from the Bible for examples of literature (citation). Without religious instruction in schools, students are not granted with the option to display their faith and practice their religion in a school setting. Despite the advantages, some Americans argue that teaching religion in public schools can be dangerous and harmful to students. Schools disapproving of students practicing

Prothero, Stephen. Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know - and Doesn't. New York, NY: Harper Collins, 2008.

Looking back from when I began my career, I can say I came a long way learning the concepts of understanding the expectations that arose from all my positions. In my first job just after graduating, I was appointed as a Business Accountant of a multinational company. Since then, I was caught in the myth that people who were in leadership positions or high ranking were leaders. Being in a junior position, I could have the least effect on any new ideas as my voice seems to have landed in deaf ears. I have seen how those businesses were not in line with their Missions and Values only to find later that many of the staff had left the company.

Mr. President, on July 18, 2014 the United States Sentencing Commission amended policy 1B1.10. This amendment, amendment 782, reduced the offense levels of federal inmates with statutory mandatory minimum penalties in 2D1.1, by two levels.

Over the centuries there have been many different environmental and geographical factors that have shaped the development of the United States. Two of these factors that I feel are extremely significant to this development are the Irish Potato Famine and the discovery of gold in California. The Irish Potato Famine began in Ireland in September 1845. The famine was caused by an airborne fungus, phytophthora infetans, which attacks the leaves of the plant, turning them black, causing them to curl and rot, ultimately killing the plant. The rotting plant makes the perfect environment for the fungus to multiply. The wind then carries the fungus spores to more healthy plants. (Irish Potato Famine,

To not display his work just because of its religious context would appear to be biased against religion. However, if the teacher did not display all student work, it may be improper to display this student’s work. In the case of Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe (2000), it was determined that using a public address system for the purpose of student prayer prior to a game was unconstitutional. The student was chosen specifically to pray before the game. Forcing students to listen to a prayer is not allowed. This student’s work is not being broadcast to the entire student body but is being displayed with all of the work of the other students in his class.

Is the reading of Bible verses before class deemed unconstitutional under the 1st and 14th Amendments? The plaintiff stated that the Bible readings before class goes against his family’s 1st and 14th amendments. Their freedom of religion was compromised when Schempp’s children had to sit in public schools and be subjected to the Bible, when their family is Atheists. As well that they have equal protection under the 14th Amendment to the

I volunteered at Chiefland Elementary School, under Ms. Sidorenko’s supervision. After doing my twenty hours of volunteering at Chiefland Elementary School, I have gained new knowledge on how religion works in schools. If you grew up in a small town area like I did, you would know that religion around here is not a touchy subject with many people. Many faculty administrators who work in the school system happen to be Baptists or Christians. Therefore, people are able to throw in religious assessments here and there without getting into too much trouble. In this case, at this school, everyone goes to the same church or partners with each other’s churches. Before I go on, let me just say, even though I am a Christian, I think that religion shouldn’t be a topic talked during school hours. My reasoning for this is because children are there to get an education and to learn about the world around them. Teachers barely have enough time to teach the concepts that are mandatory, if we add religion it will just offend students and teachers won’t be able to get their job done. Now that society is changing and is starting to accept individuals more, I have noticed this school is having a hard time accepting that.

It has been over a long time since the U.S. Incomparable Court restricted petition in state funded schools in the now scandalous case Engle v. Vitale. (Joined States Courts, n.d., para. 4). By decision that school-supported nondenominational supplication in government funded schools disregarded the First Amendment of the Constitution, the training ended up noticeably impermissible in every single state funded school all through the nation. In the year following Engle v. Vitale, the Supreme Court heard a comparable case in Pennsylvania which challenged school-supported book of scriptures perusing and recitation of the Lord's

The courts did pass an injunction stopping the passing out of Bibles to elementary school students at any time on school property. They did this due to the fact that passing out the Bibles during the school day and on school property endorsed a particular religion. The district’s policy that was adopted was contradictory to the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, considering it stated, “All requests “shall be approved” unless the material is libelous, obscene, or unlawful; advertises products or services for sale; endorses a candidate for public office; promotes alcohol, tobacco, drugs, or other illegal activity; or is likely to cause substantial disruption at the

Achieving high grades and doing well in school has previously been attributed to knowledge of Biblical learning. In his article “The relationship between Biblical literacy, academic achievement, and school behavior…,” William Jeynes talks about how a study was completed by 160 students who were grades 7th through 12th. The student’s Biblical knowledge was tested. The end results proved to be that the students with the highest level of Biblical knowledge also had the highest grade point averages and portrayed the best behavior of students from both public and Christian schools (p. 102-106).