Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) members meet once a week to read and apply Christian scriptures. Reportedly, FCA students would enjoy taking elective courses on religion and look forward to the possibility in the future. Photo by Lily Black.

The opportunity to learn directly about religious scriptures through high school elective courses appeals to students, but legislators are still debating as Iowa Senate File 510 moves through the Senate subcommittee.

Iowa Senate File 510 would allow school districts to offer elective classes teaching religion and put an emphasis on religious scripture that school districts may offer. These classes would be optional, so high school students would not be required to enroll.

Currently, this senate file is still in the education subcommittee, where it could be moved to the full education committee. The subcommittee is in charge of dissecting the bill and reporting their findings back to the full committee. If it continues to move forward, it will go to the full Iowa Senate floor.

Legislation analysis

Reportedly, the introduction of this bill has ulterior motives to promote specific religions.

“I can’t speak to the purpose because I did not write this legislation, but it seems to have the intent of promoting Christianity in the public schools. Why I say that is [because] currently, in our schools, classes on religion are allowed,” Iowa Senator Sarah Trone-Garriot said.

Additionally, there is teacher guidance and professional standards currently in place for teaching religious courses. Some public schools already offer religious courses.

“A lot of people, especially [teenagers], are curious about controversial things, and religion is a major thing. This could offer a way for them to learn about any religion. Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, all of them. It would just offer kind of like a big religion pamphlet for them,” junior Gus Johnson said.

Offering religious elective courses would allow high school students to explore a variety of religions and learn about something they’re interested in.

“It gives people the option to know more in-depth information about either the religion that they’re in. They could feel more connected to [their religion] or allow people to learn more about it if they’re interested,” junior Emma Roberts said.

Debate concerning separation of church and state

One of the United States’ founding principles is the separation of church and state. Some believe that the government crosses that line, while others believe that it’s not an issue because the courses aren’t required.

“The line was drawn by our constitution, and we’re not to use the power and resources of the states to promote religion. That would be unconstitutional,” Trone-Garriot said.

Senator Trone-Garriot is a Lutheran minister, and she preaches on the weekends. She had served in congregations and had taught confirmation at vacation Bible school. However, Trone-Garriot still believes that it’s not the legislator’s job to pass this bill.

SF 510 does not require any student to take the class, and school districts aren’t required to offer a religious course. Seemingly, students favor the bill because they would still have a choice.

“The way that it’s currently set up, because it’s set up as an elective, it’s a choice, it’s an option. I see no issues with it,” Roberts said.

The choice allows for each district to analyze what is best for them and make a fitting decision.

“School districts have the best information as to what their student body wants. What would be important to me is that the bill maintains local control. If a district wanted to offer it, they could, and if they didn’t want to offer it, they wouldn’t have to,” Iowa House representative of district 41 in Ankeny, Ryan Weldon, said.

School districts and legislatures alike reportedly want students to have a well-rounded education in a variety of subject areas.

“It’s important that we all understand various different topics, whether it’s government, religion, or science. There’s a vast majority of topics that we can all learn about,” Weldon said.

Importance of understanding

There are many different perspectives at AHS that make up the student body. Students’ diverse backgrounds can sometimes cause tunnel vision, leading to misunderstandings.

“When people don’t have experiences outside of their own cultural lens, it’s easy for them to see their way of life as being the only way. It’s easy then to make a judgment for someone who is religious or not religious, based on their worldview,” Ankeny Community School District’s Family and Community Engagement Executive Director, Ken Morris Jr. said.

Reportedly, religion is a subject of inquiry for students and is a major aspect of American culture and society, even though only a portion of the population is religious.

“I find religion very interesting, and I find scriptures very interesting. I think it’s really important that Americans have a higher level of religious literacy about their own faith, whatever that might be,” Trone-Garriot said.

AHS students have a variety of beliefs that mesh together throughout the school day and can open the door for assumptions to be made about one another. Learning more about religions could help students better understand one another.

“Even if we don’t believe the same things, how do we become more curious to learn what drives you? What’s your motivation? So that we could still believe what we believe, but now I’m less biased and prejudiced against someone who’s different from me,” Morris said.

Religion and belief systems as a whole can be a grounding point for students as they transition into life after high school.

“The thing that is really important is that humans search for meaning. If we don’t have the ability to offer something like that, there might be a negative effect on student mental health as a whole. In general, it can be helpful for somebody who is searching for that and wants to learn,” Weldon said.

This deeper meaning can be a big representation of who someone is as a person, and the foundation of their lives.

“It’s getting to be able to see and recognize what they may have in common with someone who’s different and then explore the differences. That’s what allows you to see someone’s humanity,” Morris said.