Religion In Education
Presented by: The Instructionistas
“With Liberty and Justice for All”
Pledge of Allegiance

Original Pledge of Allegiance written by
Francis Bellamy in 1892
“I pledge allegiance to my Flag and the
Republic for which it stands: one Nation
indivisible with Liberty and Justice for all.”
Changes in the Pledge of
Allegiance
1923> “ I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the
United States of America, and to the
Republic for which it stands: one Nation
indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.”
 1954> “ I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the
United States of America, and to the
Republic for which it stands: one Nation
under God, with Liberty and Justice for all.”

Controversies
Minersville School
District v. Gobitis
 West Virginia State
Board of Education v.
Barnette
 Elk Grove Unified
School District v.
Newdow
 Frazier v. Alexandre

Beginning of Prayer

As specified in the First
Amendment; and
strengthened by the
Fourteenth Amendment the
establishment of religion,
state-mandated religious
practices such as prayer and
Bible reading became
established in public schools
across the United States.
Prayer

School prayer is an
issue that has been
controversial in the
united States since the
early centrturies. In the
18th,19th and early 20th
centuries,school days
commonly opened with
an oral prayer.

Prayer in public schools
became an issue in
1960. When Madalyn
Murray O'Hair sued the
Baltimore, MD school
system on behalf of her
son William J Murray,
because he was being
forced to participate in
prayer in schools.
The Controversy
Support of Prayer in the Classroom

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The U.S. Supreme Court has replaced freedom of religion,” guaranteed by the
Constitution, for freedom from religion.
The U.S. Supreme Court has misinterpreted the Establishment Clause of
the Constitution.
School prayer would result in many societal benefits. The public school
system is tragically disintegrating as evidenced by the rise in school shootings,
increasing drug use, alcoholism, teen pregnancy, and HIV transmission.
School prayer would address the needs of the whole person. Schools
must do more than train children’s minds academically.
School prayer would allow religious students an opportunity to observe
their religious beliefs during the school day.
Opposition Of Prayer in the Classroom

School prayer violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment
which provides that government shall make no law respecting the
establishment of religion.
Creationism

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Creationism is one of only two
possible origin explanations for
our universe and all the life
that we see on planet earth.
A theory holding that matter,
the various forms of life, and
the world were created by
God out of nothing and usually
in the way described in
Genesis.
http://www.youtube.com/watc
h?v=56FMD8zd7Xc&feature=r
elated


. In the 1920s the term
became particularly associated
with Christian fundamentalist
movements…the groups
succeeded in getting teaching
of evolution banned in United
States public schools.
In the 60’s the Young Earth
Creationists promoted the
teaching of “scientific
creationism” using “Flood
geology” in public school
science classes as support for
a purely literal reading of
Genesis.
Evolutionism

The Big Bang Theory

– The universe began as a
random collision of particles
in space.

All life on Earth is
related
– On a molecular level all life,
from a rose to a bird to
humans is related.

http://youtube.com/watc
h?v=lqQKuzczjjQ
Man evolved from
Primates
– Man a further evolved
primate, apes being our
closest genetic relative.

Survival of the Fittest
– Many species have managed
to evolve over the years, only
those with the desire and
adapted skills have
managed to survive and
continue to evolve.
Creationism vs. Evolutionism
DEBATE IT!
The class will be broken into two groups.
 Each group will be assigned which side of the
argument that they will argue.
 Look through your notes and choose three main
points that you and your group will argue.
 You have ten minutes to debate each topic.

Did We Catch You Sleeping?
Give one main argument against changing
the Pledge of Allegiance to leave out the words
“under God”.
 What is the most important factor when
considering the place of prayer in the
classroom?
 Who is considered the creator of the theory of
Evolution?
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Religion In Education
The Instructionistas:
Alma Reyes
Liz Cruz
Janessa Taylor
Jennifer Proudman
Jessica Zamora
Lila Gallegos
Judy