It can be the force that drives you to obtain our goals or it can be the weight that we must carry upon our shoulders. It can be accepted or it can hold prejudice. It can cause persecution. It is religion.

The question is: should religion be promoted by the public school system? This question in itself has been the object of much scrutiny and a source of confusion. Since religion has caused so much confusion, the Supreme Court has been forced to set many guidelines about the separation of religion in school.

W.F. West principal, Dr. Smith explained her understanding of the law about religion in school as "not being allowed to promote one religion over the other." Though she said that this can be hard to understand. "We are allowed to discuss religion in school as long as we don't say that it's better than another."

People pushing their religion onto others is a very common cause for hatred and prejudice. Heather Schmidt, a Christian, said, "If you force religion on people, they may learn to resent it."

Michael Lewis, who is not afÞliated with any church, believes that you shouldn't force religions onto people because "it's not right to force certain religions on certain people because everyone worships in their own way."

There are many reasons why students believe that the law about religion in school should be changed, allowing religion in school. Christian Kari Fay feels that religion does have its place in the school.

"If you want to learn about religion, it should be available because it's not the school's place to discourage it," Fay said.

Stephen Bonnet, a Mormon, said that religion should be in school because "if they're going to ban religion, then they should ban tests because a lot of people pray before they take tests."

Kevin Harris, who has no particular religion, has a more radical point of view on religion in school.

"It's okay to have religion in school, as long as I don't have to kill any goats."

There are also many students who are completely against religion in school. These students feel that the law is correct because it protects every religion.

Delores Sweeny, an atheist, is among the many who said that "religion has absolutely no place in school."

Liz Issacson, a Catholic, stated the most common reason why students agree with the law when she said that "there are just too many religions and if we had religion in school, we are bound to offend somebody."

A Mormon student who wishes to remain anonymous, said religion shouldn't be allowed in school because "everyone has their own personal beliefs and practices."

"Usually when people say that they want religion in school, they mean that they want their religion in school. They don't even acknowlege other religions. I think that if they ever taught religion in school, students should have to study a religion beside their own," said Christian Kayla Pollard said.