Annenberg Classroom - Speak Outs - Should government money support religious schools?

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Should government money support religious schools?

If you attend public school, a lot of the things surrounding you – textbooks, computers, desks and chairs – are paid for through tax dollars. Schools get most of their money from local taxes, with some coming from state and federal taxes.

But if you attend a private religious school, not so much. Religious education institutions – Catholic schools, for instance – get their money from the tuition your parents pay every year. Taxpayer money is generally not allowed to go to religious schools…but sometimes, it makes it to them through roundabout ways.

Taxpayers are upset about this program in Arizona because they feel it violates the establishment clause of the First Amendment of the Constitution. It reads: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Also known as separation of church and state, it effectively means that the government cannot endorse religion in general or favor one religion over another. The establishment clause also came into question recently when a cross was erected in a national park as a memorial to veterans of World War II. In that case, opponents said that the cross on federal land endorsed Christianity as a religion. In this case, government encouraging donations to scholarship programs for religious schools could, in a roundabout way, be seen as an endorsement of religion.

Take a case in Arizona involving organizations that raise money for private school scholarships. The Supreme Court recently heard arguments in a case where some taxpayers allege the state tax credit program assisting those groups actually supports religious schools (and, going a step further, endorses religion).

Here’s how it works. Private schools need money. And in the interest of drumming up donations to organizations that support private schools through tuition scholarships, the state offered taxpayers a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for donating. So if you donated $500 to one of these organizations, you would get $500 back when you pay taxes in April.

The problem: What if the organization took that money and gave it only to private religious schools? The program says it’s okay for the organization to do this. Taxpayers in Arizona who brought the case to the Supreme Court don’t agree, since government money – the tax rebate – helped bring donations to the organization. It then has a responsibility to support more than just private schools, or run the risk of violating the First Amendment’s establishment clause.

Representatives of the state of Arizona told the Supreme Court that their program was constitutional. They said that “it’s a neutral law that results in scholarship programs of private choice” – that the law gives donors a tax credit for supporting an organization, and it’s the donors’ decision which organization they support.

What do you think?

Should government money support religious schools? Why or why not? What if government money goes to a program that supports scholarship organizations, and those organizations might support only religious schools? Is that fair? Or is it a violation of the Constitution? How far removed does the government need to be from a religious school receiving money before it’s okay? Or is it an issue, no matter where it is on the chain? Join the discussion!

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Comments

5/7/2012
Porterville/CA

Mario
Smith/Monache
I believe the government should support religious schools only if it consists of actual educational matters. If it involves material such as learning of religious content, then the government should not supply. These private religious matters do not directly involve the government, but the parents who want their children to learn. These are "wants" and not "needs" to be successful. Academic techniques such as math and literacy skills will be useful in the future so the government should make sure we learn these skills.

3/21/2012
Bronx/NY

Jefferson D
Ms.Teron/Saint Angela Merici School
i think that gov. should support religious school because public school have a gov. but religious don't

12/10/2011
Montgomery/TX

Vanessa A
Meztger/Montgomery High School
The government should support religious schools. Yes, there is a "separation of church and state", but the government doesn't even have to go that far. Religious schools not only provide religoius activities, they also provide an education to each of their students. Taxpayers would not be funding their money just for religious programs, they would be funding their money for textbooks, computers, and others school materials that are needed for a good education. If federal taxes provide all of this for public school systems why can't they do the same for religious schools without necessity of getting involved with religion?

12/10/2011
Montgomery/TX

12/4/2011
Az

Mike
St. Mary's
Since when is it the Governments money!? The Federal and State general fund is supported by money paid into by the people. On a very simple note... if I allocate my educational donation(tax) to a private school, then haven't I exercised my choice for education and still kept the Church and state seperrate. I didn't even involve the state/federal governments decision making. But I have fulfilled my education obligations. Lets not make this any harder then the government is making it. Public school in Arizona are at the bottom of the list of quality...don't force me to send MY children to a dead end school with a dead end education !

11/29/2011
MA

K
English
The state should NOT support public schooling! SEPERATION OF CHURCH AND STATE! If they want their education to be paid for go to public school.

10/26/2011
MA

Jiawen
Mr Rimas
i think the governments can support the religious schools is the nice thing. but the people who to go religious schools need to pay for it ,so the school should have money

10/22/2011
Stockton CA

liz
St. Luke
i think it is very important that governments support catholic schools because what if it had been catholic schools getting all the money and public schools only getting a little? The first ammendment states that all citezens have the freedom of religion. well that means that we can belive in anything or nothing at all. and people say that if you cant pay for the public school then dont send your child there but public schools arnt that great. this is just my opinion evryone has there own but myn is just one.

10/22/2011
Stockton,CA

liz
st.lukes
i think governments should support religious schools because the first ammendment states that we have the freedom of religion. and we can have a religion if we want to or we dont have to have a religion. it would be fair if the government supported both private and public schools.

9/14/2011
Beeville,TX

Kat De Leon
Thornton/A.C. Jones
I definitely think government money should support religious schools. The first ammendmnet gives us freedom of religion and government violates that if they don't supply them with money. It's all learning, they're all schools, there's no reason why they shouldn't get money especially based on the fact that it's a religious school. I also think money going just to religious schools for scholarships is fair.

1/17/2011

Sophia C
Bradley/Nimitz, Irving, TX
Of course the the government should support religious schools, because, when it comes down to it, they're schools. Yes, they have extra classes we, in public schools, don't have, and yes, their mission statement might be a little different than ours, but they are a place of learning. It's correct that the government should not promote and type of religion, but when the government gives money to public schools, is it promoting those? Is it saying we should go to those schools? Of course not, if it were, every public school in the country would be competing for the government's attention. The money from taxpayers wouldn't be specifically funneled toward religious activities, it would be funneled to getting students better textbooks, or a science lab more materials. There are some families that struggle to keep their children in private, sometimes religious, schools, but continue to do so anyway. Allowing the government to supply these schools with taxpayer money would lower tuition costs, and such a struggle might be lifted a little.

1/13/2011

Monica A.
Bradley/ Nimitz High School, Irving, Tx
I believe that a state should have the right to provide funds to private schools if it so pleases. The only requirement I feel is necessary is that there be no discrimination to any religion or organization. In the 1st Amendment it states that there will be no establishment of religion, therefore if a state wishes to grant funds to private/religious schools it cannot show any preference.

1/12/2011

Parker H.
Bradley/ Nimitz HS, Irving, TX
I am perfectly fine with the government giving money to religious schools, even though it is, in a way, prevented by seperation of church and state. As long as one religion doesn't take preference over another, I feel like it is acceptable. In fact, in a way, I can see how not giving the money to a school all because it is religion based actually violates discrimination precedents that have been laid down in the past (keep in mind this reasoning is a little bit roundabout). Say for instance the religion of a family forces them to attend a school of that religion. For the government not to give money to that school would be a prevention of that religion being practiced freely, which in a way violates the 1st Amendment. With that in mind, government money is almost legally bound to be supportive towards religious schools just as it is nonreligious schools.

1/11/2011

Donavon
Nimitz High School, Irving, Tx
I believe that it is fair for the government to support religious schools. As long as the government isn't discriminating what religion it will support, then it's fair for all schools to get some government help. The program asks for donations, therefore the donor has the choice of where they want their money to go. There are many different things that people write off on their taxes every year that support specific things, this is no different. If the money is being specifically spent on things such as computers or school supplies, the money is being spent the same way in both the religious and public schools. Now if the money is going to scholarship programs, that is a totally different story. Every student should be able to apply and receive scholarships. Regardless of what school they attend. Who's to say they will go to a religious university.

1/11/2011

Chanh
Bradley/Nimitz, Irving, TX
Government money should not support religious schools. Included in the first amendment, the government has no right to establish religion or promote it, which also means to favor one over another and so they have no right to aid in anything that has to do with religion. To be fair, the government shouldn’t let any money go to a scholarship that supports religious schools either because that won’t be fair to other religions. For instance, if the government ends up helping a religious school, directly or indirectly, then it is obligated to help any and all other needs of any religious causes. Even though it is for the good of the students and it is still a school, it shouldn’t have to right the use government money to promote such things that are prohibited by the law.

1/10/2011

Maritza
Bradley/Nimitz, Irving, TX
In my opinion, government money should be used to support religious schools in areas of supplies for the students. It is imperative for all schools to provide their students with necessary tools for learning. These tools may be textbooks, computers and even writing utensils. These essential supplies for learning do not promote any sort of religion. Therefore I believe the government should use the money given through them by taxes to support schools with necessary supplies, even if the school represents a religion. If the government put money into a scholarship organization that only supports religious schools, I would have to say that it is unfair. The government should not favor one organization representing a certain religion because other organizations will not get the same support and money. The governement should not support any organization specific to a religion but they should give money to religious schools to help wih the essential learning tools. They may not put money into schools where they might be supporting a religion as for example, a field trip.

1/10/2011

Uyen V.
Bradley, Nimitz High School, Irving, TX
This issue is quite crucial to the point where you can't determine whether if it's fair for private schools to get some of the tax cuts. To me, even though it says in the Bill of Rights (the Establishment Clause)that the government is not allowed to give tax money to religious schools. To me, even though I'm Catholic, I think that if the government was giving some tax money to the, not only is it against the 1st Amendment, but it wouldn't really be fair. Because all private schools have their own tuition costs, where it could pay for necessary school items(textbooks, computers, desks, etc.). So I don't think that government money support religious schools.

1/10/2011

David
Nimitz HS, Irving, Tx
I don’t think government money should support religious schools. Not because they’re religious, but because they are private schools. If schools are private, they shouldn’t get money from the government. However if they are in desperate need of money, the government should be forced to loan the schools money. They are also receiving money from the students, unlike public schools.

1/10/2011

Jose M.
Bradley/Nimitz, Irving, Tx
I would have to say yes and no, yes because students learning should never interfere with the first amendment, just because of freedom, they are still getting educated. And no because most private schools can find ways to raise money and do many fund-raising activities. The government can maybe spent money on textbooks, paper, computers, etc. but extra activities, the school shall have to handle alone. Thomas Jefferson (founding father) even said that states should separate from religion. Financial aid is completely different than school because almost everybody can apply for financial aid. I would have to go neutral with this topic because students one way or another are getting education.

1/4/2011

Joey
Montgomery High, Texas
Absolutely not, I would pretty upset to if my contributions went to a favoring program that violates with endorsing religion. That would soil the American name almost as bad as if the burning on the Koran’s took place. First amendment states no establishment of religion, it’s a good loophole but an unfair advantage.

1/2/2011

Jordan
Bradley/Nimitz, Irving, Tx
Attending school is a basic function for all kids. ALthough some kids get a better education that others, all schools have the basic function of molding young minds. Public schooling is often frowned upon by the weathy or well off, while private schooling is said to make your kid into "something." Though all schools have the same purpose, not all schools are equal. Public schools require taxpayer money otherwise poor school districts could not bring students out of poverty and into wealth. Though private schools do the same thing as public schools, they do not require the taxpayers' money to run. If the government gives taxpayer money to private schools, the private schools, who already have more money than public schools, will take money away from the public school system and amass a wealth so that their students excel while public school kids, who are already behind, will fall further behind, creating a hierarchy that is impossible to defeat.

12/6/2010

Sebastian
Schuylerville High School, Schuylerville/ NY
No, governments should not support religious schools with tax dollars. Taxes high enough have to pay for the public schools that aren’t anywhere near good, so why would we spend more money to bring down even more schools. Let us solve a problem before we create another. This should not even be on the table until the educational system is cleansed from corruption and the money is directed toward the students where it belongs. Teachers need to be held more accountable for teaching their students properly therefore every school should be audited much more. Expanding our budget will not help anyone.

11/18/2010

Giselle
Bradley/ Nimitz, Irving, TX
This is a definite no. Private schools get their funding from tuition and fund raising. It looks really bad when the government gives money to a certain religious-affiliated school. Now scholarships are a totally different subject. A student that goes to religious school might not want to go to a christian or catholic university. Everyone is entitled to apply scholarships, private school students as well. That right should not be taken away from a student just because he or she goes to a christian academy. Although my personal opinion no matter how much or how little the government gives to a religious school, it's wrong. Yes it is a school but it's a religious school, and if one certain school receives money it looks like the government is playing favorites. And if one certain religious school receives money why shouldn't a different religious school get money as well? After all the first amendment states no establishment of religion, and if the government gives to a religious school it makes it look like they're trying to make that the religion for the entire nation. I don't know about you but I like having freedom of religion and not be forced to believe in something I don't want to.

11/17/2010

skyler
sidney high school, sidney mt
no i dont think they should give them money because it teaches religous teaching and seperration of the states and its private school any ways

11/17/2010

Destani
Nimitz H.S., Irving, TX
I think it is very appropriate for tax payers to support religious schools. A school is a school, regardless of the institution's religious or secular views. Since when is it wrong for willing tax payers to donate money to organizations that give back to Americans attempting to seek higher learning? As the article says, some of the money from these organizations goes to scholarships for college-bound students. In addition, if more government money was filtered into these schools, that could lower the typically outrageous tuition rates these students pay each year, in turn opening the way for students of a lower socio-economic standing to receive the same exemplary education. Yes, we all understand the separation of church and state, but whether we are willing to admit it or not, our country was founded on religious principles. Exactly how many states permit anything but monogamous marriage? Even in public schools we say the pledge of allegiance, in which the U.S. is referred to as “one nation under God.” We can't let our own personal ideologies affect any person's educational experience. Similarily, those parents who have children enrolled in private schools still must pay taxes, which aid public schools. So why shouldn't parents whose children go to public schools not be required to-- or at least be able to-- help fund private schools? If some kind of legislation was made outlawing this, it could by extension affect any form of private schooling. If this occurred, what's to stop legislative action that ends the funding of schools for our disabled children, who may have some very specialized needs? Thus, if an organization wants to raise money for private schools using the donations of very willing parents, no one should have the right to stop them. Petty arguments over whether our government should be able to form our own schools hinders own growth. No surprise that China is rising to the top.

11/16/2010

Dakota
Sidney High School, Sidney MT
No, I don't think that the taxpayer money should go torward religious schools. Seperation of church and state is one of the most important aspects of the United States, and crossing that barrier is not a good thing to do. If the goverment started giving money to religious schools there would be a great chance that the government may support one religion over the other.

11/16/2010

Bryan
Faulaber, Sidney
I think that goverment money shouldnt support religious schools they are a privite organizationand they have enough money to support there students they dont need more money from the goverment.

11/16/2010

Zack B.
sidney high school, sidney mt
I think that there should be some funding but it should not mix state ad church. It will help some children get better education and maybe less drop outs.

11/16/2010

Ryan M.
Mr. faulhaber/ sidney high school, Sidney
They shouldn't support only private schools but they should be able to support religious schools if they want to.

11/16/2010

Nathaniel
Sidney High School, Sidney, MT
I don't think religious schools should get more money. They should work with what they get and make it work to the best they can.

11/16/2010

Brooke S.
Sidney High School, Sidney High School
I don't think that the government should support religious schools. I think it crosses the line of separation of church and state. The school already gets money from the students' tuition so its not like they are poor and don't have any money.

11/15/2010

Jessy
Sidney High School, Sidney Mt.
I dont think that any money from the gov't. should go to religious schools, because we dont need to waste money on a place that dosent give everyone an equal opportunity to get in. plus we are trying to fund a war...so we dont need to use up the money needed to support our troops

11/15/2010

Megan
Sidney High School, Sidney, MT
I think that the money should not go only to private schools. This is a violation on the First Amendment.

11/15/2010

Airika
Sidney Highschool, Sidney MT
I don't think private schools should get gov't funding. My sister went to a private school and it was expensieenough. for each person attending to pay that much and buy uniforms, all those extras + fundraisers suits alot of the schools needs already.

11/15/2010

Cole
Sidney High School, Sidney MT
Riligious schoolos should not recieve money through taxes. There parents pay the expensive tutition use that. If they don't think public schools are good enough it should cost them to have to go to school.

11/15/2010

Krissa Jones
Sidney High School, Sidney, MT
Religious schools should not be getting any government money because the school is already receiving money from the students tuition they pay each year to attend. Also there is seperation from church and state which means our tax money for the government should not go towards religious things like a religious school.

11/15/2010

Ryan J
Sidney High School , Sidney Mt
I think that religous schools should not be funded by the government because part of being an american citizen is freedom of religion and if a kid cant come to a public school where people work together and dont judge on your practice of religion then they should have to pay extra for the so called "better" for their kid!

11/15/2010

Krissy H
Sidney High School, Sidney, MT
Yes, becuase even though a child goes to a private school their parents are still paying taxes that help support a public school. Some of that money should go to private schools. kids are still there to learn just like in a private school, the only difference is they practice a religion.

11/15/2010

BreAnne Buxbaum
Mr. Faulhaber, Sidney, Mt.
I believe that if you are paying tax dollars, to your government and city. That money all goes to public schools. So While all the money is going to public schools, the parents that would like their children to go to a private school, depending on their relign, or special needs. Their money is also going to to the public school. I feel that if you are paying tax dollers for a education purposes, It should go to a school that benefits you. We do not need to leave the private schools out because they are different.

11/15/2010

Will Waddell
Sidney High School, Sidney Montana
Students and their parente who want to see a bright future should do what ever it takes to reach it. The further success of the student cannot be attained in schools with high drop-out rates. If the people want to donate, the people should donate.

11/15/2010

Joey Escobedo
Sidney High School, Sidney, MT
I think they should get like a percentage of the tax money because in like the bigger cities maybe some kids dont have a good oppurtunity to get a good education when the drop out rate is like 50% so your parent wants you to go to a private school but cant afford it. Thats when tax money should come in.

11/15/2010

Andrew
Sidney High, Sidney
I also think that none of our tax money should be going to private schools. Parents make the decisioj to send there kids there. everyone is able to go to a public school but you have to be accepted to a private school. there are more important things than private schools right now that need tax money.

11/15/2010

Kayla
Sidney High School, Sidney, MT
I don't think government money should support religious schools. The Amendments the government made are here for a reason. If the government goes against their own rules or laws then why have the laws. Government needs to fallow the Amendment and not support them.

11/15/2010

cody
sidney high school, sidney mt
I think that the goverment money sould support religious schools because their tax money helps support our schools so it would only be fair if they got government money also.

11/15/2010

Rihana
Sidney High School, Sidney, MT
I don't think government should support religious schools. I think if the parent wishes to send their chiild to a private school they should pay for it. They can always have their child go to a public school and just make sure the child stays in school. It is not the responsibility of parents sending their child to a public shcool to also pay for someone to go to a more expensive private school.

11/15/2010

Colin B.
Sidney High School, Sidney, Montana
The government should support them but not as much as public schools because private schools recieve donations and they get tuition from the kids parents who obviously can afford it cause their kid is attending that school.

11/15/2010

Cody
Sidney High, Sidney MT
Government should not give money to support religious schools because they do not give everybody an equal chance to get the same education, if your parents care that much about your education they should be willing to pay the extra money to send you to a private school.

11/15/2010

Tyler
Sidney High School, Sidney MT
I dont think tax payers money should go to private religious schools. If a person wants to go to that school then they should have to be the ones to pay for it. If they dont want to pay for it they should go to a public school.

11/15/2010

Brady
Sidney High School, MT
No I dont think that money from the government should go to supporting religious schools because that would mean less money for other schools who are already struggling with financial problems.

11/15/2010

Alex
Sidney High School, Sidney, MT
I don't think that governments should support religious schools because it is a choise to attend that religious school. If you don't attend a religious school you have to go to a public school and there are more kids going to public schools than religious schools so public schools need the money.

11/15/2010

Grant
Sidney High Schoool, Sidney, MT
No, because its takeing away the money from the public schools. You have to pay to go that private school so the tution should be enough because that costs a lot of money.

11/15/2010

Scotty
Sidney High School, Sidney, MT
I dont think that the government should have to pay for it, i mean the religous schools ask you to pay for tuition so use the tuition money there getting and let the government pay for stuff like getting the troops back and pay for our dept

11/15/2010

Chase
Sidney High School, MT
I don't think that the government should give money to religious schools because the student's families already pay a high tuition that should cover alot of the schools expenses. The government should worry about supporting the public schools that need it more.

11/15/2010

Randy
Sidney High School, Sidney, MT
No, just cause the school is religous don't mean they should get extra money. Most schools raise money for what they got. Maybe the kids should go raise money like most kids do in other schools.

11/15/2010

Elizabeth
Sidney High School, Sidney MT
I dont think that the government should support religious schools because of the seperation of church and state. Also, if it bothers people that their taxes are going to public schools and not the private religious schools then maybe they should send their children to a public school. I believe that if your child is going to a private school then the tuition should take care of the expenses. A private school is supposed to better and more expensive. If a person is so special to go to a private school then taxes shouldnt cover them.

11/15/2010

Kian
Sidney High School, Sidney Mt
I think that the government should give money to religous schools only if, it lowers the dropout rate and if the governemtn supports all private schools not just religous ones.

11/15/2010

Gamet (Heaven)
Faulhaber/SHS, Disney/MT
Religious schools are private schools. I support seperation of church and state and would consider discrimination against religious schools /because they're religious/ as considering that they're religious and thus interferring church with state. For basic legal purposes, they should be looked at as public schools only. Having said that, America ensures a /free/ education to all its citizens. Public schooling is not free. Either this should be made illegal or public schools should be looked upon as a business--either way means my answer is no.

11/15/2010

Patrick Haraldson
Sidney HS, Sidney, MT
I think that the government should support private schools, because by law we have to go to school, so the goverment who makes us go, should support EVERY school, even if it is religious.

11/15/2010

Brooke
Sidney High School, Sidney, Mt
i think that private schools should not get tax money from the governtment. They get money ever year from the parents for their child to attend at their school. But for them to get the parent's money plus tax money in unfair for the public schools.

11/15/2010

Landon
Sidney high school, MT
Tax dollars should not be used to support religious schools because it supports riligious teaching and views, which is against the separation of church and state. people can partake in religion on their own time.

11/15/2010

Tim F.
Mr.Fualhaber/Sidney High School, Sidney, MT
I don't think that private should recieve money from the gov't because the people that are attending the schools pay..tax payers shouldn't have to pay for a school that everybody can't attend.

11/15/2010

Cerek
shs, sidney,mt
I dont think that gov't should spend money on religious schools because the gov't has alot more important things to spend taxpayer money on.

11/15/2010

Andi
Sidney High School, Sidney, MT
I think that the government should not support religious private schools because it contradicts the separation of church and state. Plus, the tuition for these schools is very high. It seems that with the parents of the attending students paying that kind of money, the private school should be able to fund itself instead of using the taxes which normally go to the public schools.

11/15/2010

Jovan
Bradley/Nimitz High School, Irving/TX
I don't think the government should fund private religious schools. Their parents already give a lot of money for their tuition, the school should be able to run and work with that. If organizations are choosing to gather some money to help them out then I don't see why that would be a problem. Its their money and they should be able to do what they want with it. At the same time, I don't care who they are, we can all use financial help. That government money given to the organizations can be used however that organization pleases since it didn't have any restrictions on giving it to religious private schools.

11/15/2010

Brennan
Sidney High School, Sidney, Mt.
I think religious schools should not get money. There is suppost to be a seperation between state and religion. They get there money from intuition.

11/12/2010

Ivan
Bradley, Irving
I do not Religious school should get any funding or money support from Government. They get tuition fees from the students and their parents. From my knowledge the tuition is lot of money, which is enough to keep their school running without the need of government money. So I do not think government should give religious schools any money support.

11/12/2010

Jena
Bradley/Nimitz High School, Irving, Texas
Private schools do fall under the category of separation of church and state, meaning that the federal government should not fund them. But if organizations are choosing to raise money and give it to private schools, let them. It's their choice, it's their money, let them spend it however they want to. Saying that an organization that gets money from the government cannot give its scholarship money to the school is depriving children from financial support. Yes, they should have the money to pay for college if they can pay for private school, but almost everyone need financial support no matter what. Depriving student of this money could possibly be counted as discrimination against students with religion. And yes, government is not supposed to fund religious schools, but they gave the money to an organization for the organization to use. They didn't attach regulations to it. It should be able to be used for whatever the organization feels it should be used for. And this includes funding private schools.

11/12/2010

Lucy V.
Bradley/ Nimitz High School, Irving/TX
The First Amendment calls for no establishment of religion. If the government funds money to schools with certain religious affiliation, then it would seem like the government is defining that particular religion as the religion of the nation. If the government wants to fund a religious school, it has to fund ALL of the religious schools in the nation. The government already doesn't have enough money (that's why we're indebted to China) to fund public schools, and it also has to raise taxes every year to accommodate the growing population. They don't have any extra money to go around. Let the parents who want their children to study in a religious school pay for it. It's call parental responsibility.

11/11/2010

Ciara
Bradley/Nimitz HS, Irving, Texas
I absolutely disagree with this. I do not think, under any circumstances that government money should support religious schools. Although tax dollars go toward public schools, that's an entirely different story. Private schools are "private" for a reason. Children do not have to go to private schools, parents choose to place them there. If a school wants funding, they should be public. Also, there is a separation of church and state, which implies that our tax dollars to the government should go toward non-religious purposes.

11/9/2010

George
Palosi, Panama
Yes, money from the government should go to the religious schools because although there is serapation of church and state, it is still a school and should have some means of funding.

11/5/2010

mike
sostack/etown high school, elizabethtown pa
its what it is

11/5/2010

travis
sostack/etown high school, etown/pa
i think they shouldebecause then they would proplby raise taxes for the middle classes

11/5/2010

Austin
sostack/etown high school, elizabethtown pa
I believe that money from the government should go to religious schools. I have 2 siblings that go to one and my parents pay a lot of money for tuition.

11/5/2010

cole
sostack/etown high school, elizabethtown pa
I believe that government money should not go toward religious schools because there is suppose to be a division of church and state and the church is always saying they want to be seperate, so if they are going to be seperate, then be consistent

11/5/2010

mike
sostack/etown high school, elizabethtown pa
ye the shoud cause yins need to help dem out

11/5/2010

Jordan
Sostack , Elizabethtown, Pa
Yes I do think so.

11/5/2010

Tyler
Mr.Sostack/Etown High School, Etown/PA
Yes, because all schools deserve the money support regardless of religious reasons. And it makes it easier for parents to pay tuition.

11/5/2010

Nick
Sostack, Elizabethtown, PA
yes they should and kids should have a choice on whether or not they want to take the class or not.

11/5/2010

Amber V.
Mr.Sostack / Elizabethtown Area High School, Elizabethtown, PA
I don't think that religious schools should get government money. They are already getting money from the parents paying tuition for them to go there. So why should they get money when they already are receiving a revenue from the kids paying to go there. Why should they get more money to make their schools better, and pay their teachers more. It's not right. That's why the public schools aren't as "up to date" as the religious schools. So they should stop getting funding from the government.