Does the US curriculum include a religious studies class? and if so do they teach a wide range?

by Radical Ed Posted 2012/07/05 13:55:01

Related Topics: Religion, Single, School, State, Religious, Education, Schools, Class, Country, UK, Curriculum, range

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	religious studies are part of the education and all religions are taught equally.	0 votes	0%
	religious studies are part of the education but only a single religion is taught in any detail.	0 votes	0%
	religious studies are not part of the education	5 votes	100%

In the UK, children in secondary schools are given compulsory lesson involving religion. this is not on a single one but rather a mix of different religions with all being talked about equally and freely. i am curious about if this is the same in the US and would like to hear if this is country wide or different in each state.

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genevieve cloquet 2012/07/17 19:56:48

religious studies are not part of the education

Not in public schools.

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Metaldane 2012/07/05 18:05:28 (edited)

religious studies are not part of the education

Mine did but only as an optional cultural studies class and we also had a mythology class which taught about the old religions and we covered the new pagan religions a little to compare them.

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Rebel Yell 2012/07/05 14:48:50

religious studies are not part of the education

+1
Only in private schools. In public schools, religion is only addressed in context, such as when studying the Crusades or the Puritans in America.

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sockpuppet 2012/07/05 14:32:07

religious studies are not part of the education

+2
We didn't have such a class when I was in school in the Midwest during the 70's--
or if we did, it certainly wasn't mandatory. Our curricula are set by a board of elected officials in localized school districts. These districts receive funds and instruction from the City, the State and the Feds, but have quite a bit of leeway as to the way they run their schools. It's a fairly complicated system, here... and not at all efficient or effective.

IAC, I'm pretty sure that using the words "compulsory" and "religion" in one sentence would summon two opposing armies of lawyers, and even if a district was somehow allowed to require such a class, it would be an endless source of lawsuits.

I'm always keen to hear about how they do things in other countries. Good topic! :O)

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