Religious Education in Public School : Research Studies on the Situation in the United States

2002年和2003年，我在田纳西州纳什维尔和旧金山湾区进行了“公立学校的宗教教育”研究。由于多元文化、多元宗教的格局，公办学校体现了家长的价值意识，成为文化战争的战场。与日本相比，美国更有必要进行不同宗教共存的教育，美国的政教分离禁止宗教的建立。然而，《宪法》第一修正案保证即使在公立学校也可以自由信奉宗教。美国舆论支持在公立学校开展关于宗教的教育。自1962年美国最高法院法官上任以来，我们在公立学校中找不到任何关于宗教的教育，推动公立学校宗教教育的主要机构不是政府或公立学校官员，而是私营非政府组织之一的“第一修正案中心”。在这里，我可以找到美国民主的力量。在不久的将来，日本可能会接纳更多的移民，多宗教的情况将会增加。日本应该努力实现与信仰多种不同宗教的国家共存。公立学校的宗教教育将变得比现在更重要。

In 2002 and 2003, I did the research on "Religious Education in the Public School" in Nashville, TN and San Francisco Bay Area. Because of the multi-cultural and multi-religious situation, the public school has reflected the value consciousness of the parents, and tended to become the "battle field" of culture war. Comparing to Japan, the United States has much necessity for the education on coexistence among the different religions.The separation of church and state in the United States prohibits the establishment of religion. However, the First Amendment of the Constitution guarantees the free exercise of religion even in the public schools. American public opinion supports the education "about" religion in the public schools. Since the judge of the US Supreme Court in 1962, we cannot find any education about religion in the public schools.The main institution to promote the education about religion in the public school has not been the government or public school officials, but "the First Amendment Center" which is one of the private NGO. Here I can find the strength of democracy of the United States. In the near future, Japan may accept more immigrants, and multi-religious situation will increase. Japan should try to achieve the coexistence with the counties which believe many different religions. The education "about" religion in the public schools will become more important than now.