Teachers, Religious Values of

Jason Eric Nelson

Religion and education have a complex legal, political, and ethical relationship, particularly as it relates to what teachers can and should do in the classroom vis-à-vis their own religious identity. Robert Nash suggests that teachers often fear to express or even admit their religious identity and that this silencing runs counter to the pluralistic ideal of expressing and embracing other parts of their identity, such as race or gender (although, of course, these are often marginalized as well). Religious identity is troublesome, however, because teachers may not only face prejudice but also be predisposed to practice it themselves. This entry attempts to define religious identity, then looks at how it can influence teaching practice and what the courts have had to say on the issue. To define religious identity requires a broader concept than religious beliefs or religious values. To define it as “being religious” excludes those who are undecided, ...

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