It’s always interesting and exciting to deal with intelligent young people in high schools – especially those who are vocal and very willing to fight for what they believe in with much gusto and of course, logical substantiation. I received an email with an attached article. The sender has expressed his/her intent to remain anonymous.
The article is lifted (i.e. copy and pasted) from the original document with minimal changes to conceal the real name of the school in question.
HEAVEN, HELL AND SCIENCE HIGH SCHOOL X
by: Anonymous
Every week in Science High School X begins with the flag ceremony, where the students hold a prayer, sing the national anthem, recite the Panatang Makabayan, hear the announcements made, sing the school hymn, and leave wearing their IDs properly, in that order. Now, is there anything wrong with this scenario?
If you answered no, think again. Here’s a hint: Article II, Section 6 of the Constitution states, “The separation of Church and State shall be inviolable.”
Hint Number 2: Science High School X is a government institution.
In case you haven’t figured it out yet, there are two things wrong with the above scenario. First is that we actually have a prayer. Secondly, the prayer comes before the national anthem. God before country? Sure, but only if you’re Christian.
According to statistics, you probably are. 94 percent of Filipinos are Christian, 84 percent are Roman Catholic (CountriesQuest.com, 2003). Regardless, this doesn’t make prayer during the flag ceremony, or other mandatory Catholic activities held here, right. Science High School X is defined as a non-sectarian school, meaning no particular religion is practiced here during school hours. This does not mean that organizations such as PCORI and SCA are against the law; in fact, I’m all for students being given the option to practice religious activities on their own time. What I am against, however, is if, oh, say, every student in the school, Christian or otherwise, was made to pray at the start of every school week. Hypothetically speaking.
I have this teacher. He’s a nice guy, and more importantly, he’s efficient at what he does. This teacher makes us all pray in class every meeting, which, in this particular instance, puts him on my steadily lengthening “against” list. He explained to our class that regardless of this school’s non-sectarian policy, he makes us pray to, and I quote, “teach [us] moral values.” I might not get how standing up for 45 seconds with hands clasped teaches us moral values, but if Teacher says it does, then we should do it. A little discrimination against non-Catholics to teach everyone moral values? Good deal!
Another teacher of mine from last year made God and prayer a topic in her subject for an entire quarter. She told us that it was her mission to teach us all how to pray. Now, I’m going to go out on a limb here and suspect that she feels that it’s her mission because those of us who haven’t been exposed to God don’t know any better and thus need her guidance. As a morally upstanding and virtuous Christian, it is her responsibility to lead us away from eternal damnation. Makes sense, right? After all, it is the same reasoning used by Catholics when they, you know, burned witches in the 17th century.
Call it antidisestablishmentarianism. Call it “teaching moral values.” Call it saving the souls of the poor non-believers who don’t know any better. Call it what you will. It’s still inconsiderate towards non-Catholics, and it’s still against the law.
Each religion believes that it is the absolute on morals and justice. Since Catholicism is the predominant religion in this country, it has established itself as the absolute, considering all other religions to be misguided to some degree. Thus, everyone who goes against any of the Ten Commandments is a sinner, even though the Constitution only goes by two: as comedian Bill Maher so elegantly put it, “I won’t slaughter you, and don’t take my shit.” Homosexuality, premarital sex, absence at the Holy Mass, failure to pray, and drawing Muhammad in an unflattering way are not sins just because some religion says they are.
My point is that these teachers aren’t saving anyone by forcing us to do unnecessary religious practices. Last time I checked, Science High School X was still a non-sectarian institution, so these teachers can introduce us to their wonderful religion some other time. For now, as long as we Science High School X scholars don’t kill, steal, or God forbid, cheat, I think we’re pretty safe from being subject to eternal damnation anytime soon.
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