Entry #2

    Do we really know what the separation of church and state means? Do most of us even know where the history behind the debate came from?
David Barton gives us a quick glimpse into the history of where the debate came from and exactly why it came about.  Everyone has an opinion either for against this debate. Some of the disagreements stem from how we were raised or in what generation we were raised. There is a great difference of what was allowed and even expected from students in the past to today and even in private to public schools.
I was raised in a family that attended church almost every Sunday. My siblings and I were expected to be in attendance no matter what age we were. If we were living at home we were expected to be in church. My siblings and I also attended private or parochial schools. It was an everyday routine to say prayers, and the Pledge of Allegiance every morning. We started each day the same way. We also attended chapel every Wednesday morning. Chapel was a child's version of a church service. This is still the schedule that is followed at the school to this day. As we progressed into the Junior and Senior High Schools the flag was shown on a video system if they were not in  the rooms. We were still expected to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.  It was considered a sign of disrespect and defiance for  student not to stand a and recite the Pledge of Allegiance with the rest of the class.
My children and grand children on the other hand were brought up in public schools. Although in Elementary School the Pledge of Allegiance was still recited it did not carry over into the Junior and Senior High School classes. As the children aged the schools quit having the morning routine to recite. It is also not mandatory that students stand and recite. Every student has the option to not participate. This I believe is very sad and disrespectful to our forefathers.
     As my siblings and I were growing up the schools whether private or public all celebrated Christmas break and Easter break. The educators were allowed to talk about the real reason for Christmas within their classes. This changed as time went on though. There no longer is a Christmas and Easter break. The students now have winter break and spring break. Educators are no longer allowed to bring up, discuss or even answer questions relating to religion in any way.
    Society continues to change what is expected and what is not expected as time progresses. David Barton gives us examples of the changes that have occurred throughout history regarding religion. Times still change. Some say we are giving up our past for the future though. I believe this is the case in many areas.