Students and Staff at Colonie Share Their Opinions on the Implementation of Religious Curriculum in Public Schools

By Cameron Froehlich

Reporting from Colonie 

March 26, 2025, 2:28 p.m. EST

With the recent change in the United States presidential administration there are many shifts being discussed within the public education system. One conversation circulating within a few states is the place of religion in public schools, a topic that students and staff at Colonie find tricky to navigate. 

In some states such as Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Montana, Bible based curriculum is already being implemented and required in some public schools. This movement has been labeled as Christian Nationalism by some while others believe this curriculum to be an important part of U.S. history.

The first amendment in the constitution of the United States gives its citizens the right to freedom of speech, as well as freedom of religion. Based on this amendment and rulings in Supreme Court Cases, such as Engel v Vitale, no citizen in the U.S. can be forced to practice religion in school, or prevented from practicing their own. 

“You can’t prevent them [students] from doing it, but you also can't force it on them” explains AP United States Government teacher, Mrs. Barber in regards to prayer and religious practices in schools. 

“Instead of just the Bible maybe we have the Torah, the Quran” Barber says, “If you’re only getting one side of it you’re not getting the whole story”. 

Barber notes the importance of having a well rounded education in terms of religion, and how using only one religious text as a source is going to isolate some students and create a lack of inclusivity in the educational system.

Additionally AP United States History teacher Mr. Shafer explains that there is some educational value to the Bible, in that it could be used to explain the progression from Judeo-Christian government to the British Common law, to the American law of today, or in addition to other religions. 

“I could see the Bible being taught as part of a comparative religions course” he says.

As a history teacher, Shafer notes that if the Bible was the only text being taught in school that it would “skew the world view” for students, as they would only be learning about some historical events, such as the Crusades, from one point of view.  

Senior Val Monington, shares Mr. Shafer's point of view, saying “if schools are going to teach religion they should offer more than one or just not offer it at all”. 

“There’s certain core values I think should be taught in school but I don’t think it should be based on one specific religion.” Monington says, noting that they would feel uncomfortable if the Bible was the only religious text being discussed in class as someone who doesn't fully align with the Christian religion. 

Eliza Irons, a senior and Christian student says “it’s really inconsiderate in general” to teach the Bible exclusively. She explains that while those may be her beliefs she understands that others may not share them.

“I love the stories that the Bible tells, but I know it is catered to my setting and my religion” She says, comparing how students of other faiths may feel to how she would feel if the Quran, for example, was the only text being taught. 

Irons says that “there are a lot of life lessons” to be learned from the Bible, mentioning the story of Daniel and the Lions, but remains fixed in her belief that to teach the bible exclusively would be disrespectful to other cultures or religions. 

Students and staff seemed to agree that this is a multilayered issue which requires careful consideration from all sides of this very complicated matter to protect the rights of students from all faiths.