Our nation’s paranoia about blending public education and religion has gone too far.  I understand we should be respectful of varying religious beliefs in a public forum and not coerse religion. However, the integration of faith and education can happen in very simple, subtle ways that does not establish a state religion.

Natural conversations between students and teachers without the fear of negative retribution will facilitate meaningful dialogue. In the public school arena, when the community of students and teachers respect various religion expressions, learning will naturally happen through curiosity. A curious community learns to learn, while a fearful community becomes more and more insular. Teachers must redefine their success based off the student’s ability to become a life-long learner. “The illiterate of the future will not be the person who cannot read. It will be the person who does not know how to learn (Toffler).” If we eliminate the appropriate influence of religion in education, we eliminate the capacity to be a life-long learner.

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Toffler, Avin. (n.d.). Retrieved on June 4, 2013 from http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/a/alvintoffl409080.html.