Do you think religion is beneficial or detrimental in Belizean Education?

The impact of religious studies can be either beneficial or detrimental in Belizean education. Many people thus question why should schools in Belize continue, or if they are not already: start, to implement religion into their curriculums? While other people may claim that including religious studies into a curriculum is an insignificant addition, I, as a student who has always had religion be a part of his curriculum, disagree that it is an unimportant addition; rather, the incorporation of religion provides a wholesome education as an enlightening experience. Religion in many cases, has been, and can continue to be beneficial. The reason for that is although many blame religion for most of the world’s problems today, it is very clear that religious studies provide purpose in life, a moral or ethical framework for how to live our life, and the belief in consequences for having lived properly or not.

Today’s people are influenced by many things, from media, to social conduct, to personal beliefs. It is unreasonable then, to single out religion as one of society’s main influencer of problems.  In other words, acts of greed, or generosity, or violence, or kindness, or any other human behavior is seen in pretty equal measure everywhere. People can witness this everywhere from news broadcast, or viral YouTube clips just as easily as they can see it within the confines of a classroom. Therefore, blaming the schools that practice and teach religion is not only unfair, it is also wrong in that it ignores the root cause of certain social behaviors. To suggest that the schools can control this is to avoid taking the responsibility for ourselves.  

Indeed, a school’s role is not to act as parents for the students, but to provide “an ideal setting to acquire knowledge and skills about healthy choices and to increase physical activity levels” (“The role of schools,” 2014); it should not tell students what they can and cannot do. On the other hand, religious teachings give a sense of purpose in the life of the students. Consequently, it is up to the individual if he or she wants to follow and believe in the faith. It is not for schools to ban students from believing in it. Furthermore, once we allow school to ban one area of education, it will be free to act in all spheres of their lives because negative influences are everywhere and have always been so. Restricting a child’s access to religion will not stop problems. In fact it may increase it as citizens begin to lose moral and ethical frameworks. 

 In conclusion, social behavioral problems are impacted by many things, including, but not limited to religion, and society should take control of this. Schools should not be allowed to restrict what it teaches because they will then have to spread their control to all areas of society. 

‎August ‎2, ‎2018