Quote:Only thing I disagree with is the prayer in school, I for one don't want the state who runs the schools telling my child how to pray and when to pray. The separation of church and state is for protection of both institutions and we are all better off keeping the two respectively separated.

 

I also have to admit I don't think the state has a role to play in education at all, I'm a staunch opponent to "public" education. But while it is public and ran by the state you have to keep all religious affiliations out of it. There is nothing more dangerous then the merger of the state and the church, that has ALWAYS led to persecution through out history.

 

The state definitely has a role to play in education.  Many private schools are currently free to only admit those who they want to admit.  They can turn down people on any basis.  Taking the state's role out of education would open the door to for-profit education establishments that aren't accountable to anything other than money.  I cannot see you arguing that schools should be forced to accept all students -- especially given that you hold that businesses should be able to turn away people for any reason.    And those schools that are held accountable to only money would easily use marketing to make themselves more appealing, and have less accountability.  Much like for-profit colleges do today.


Without public education many wouldn't be able to get even a decent education.  Especially those living in poor communities, or those who live in areas with poor private schooling.  


Our public schools teach children no matter what their belief, race, gender, religion, or economic status.  They teach students who have learning disabilities, and those who show great academic promise. 

 

An uneducated society cannot survive.  Thomas Jefferson certainly believed this.  An uneducated populace leads to tyranny, and stripping of rights that we have.  


As for school prayer -- it's not banned in schools.  What's banned is school-led prayer.  Which makes sense, as that would be a violation of the establishment clause.  

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