Many think that religion should be taught in schools while others think it should be avoided. Discuss both sides and give your opinion.
Religion has a profound influence in our social and political spheres. Many are of the perception that religious teachings are to be included in the school curriculum while others contend against this view. Both views have their own gains in different facets; in my opinion, I believe that any inclusion of religious teachings in schools should be done after proper analysis.
People who support religion to be taught in schools emphasize their social impacts. An early exposure to such ideologies encourages children to respect all religious beliefs. Not only would this help children to better adapt to a pluralistic world when they grow up but also promote a peaceful co-existence between communities. For instance, in India, schools have included stories of different religions in their textbooks to teach students to acknowledge all beliefs.
Nonetheless, it is believed by many people that schools should be exclusive of any religious teachings. With equity being one of the prime objectives of schools, it is an absolute necessity to ensure an unbiased learning environment for children. If religion is taught in educational institutions, this could surface the religious differences between students and might cause harm to their unity. This is particularly true given that most educational boards nowadays prefer to omit any religious contexts in their curriculum.
In conclusion, although there is a widely held requisite to teach religion mandatorily in schools, many oppose this. Both views have legitimate arguments, in my perspective, any religious teachings in schools should be only after analyzing their potential impact on children.