Requiring a World Religions Course to Graduate FL High Schools Dawn Costa One Online Section of ENC 1102 Composition II, College of Arts & Sciences AND one online section of EDF 2085 Intro to Diversity for Educators, College of Education Instructors: Sheila Bolduc-Simpson (SBS) and Dr. Mark Simpson (Dr. S) INTRODUCTION With the ever changing diverse world we now are living in, it would only make sense to have a World Religions Course part of graduating from a Florida public high schools just like the current status of math and English. If students understand the history of the diverse religions, it may help them to understand their classmates and also continue to educate them in their adult years while they are in the workforce. Use Ariel 32 or some other very readable font and make sure it is large so that your guests can read it easily from 4 feet away. FINDINGS. METHODS A focus study was performed and the following questions were asked:  What is your age group are you male or female  Do you have a specific type of religion you practice  Do you have children in high school  Did you graduate high school  Should a world religions course be part of the curriculum in high school  Should it be a requirement to graduate  Do you know the first amendment ABSTRACT A Focus Study was performed to determine whether Florida High Schools should require a World Religions course and used as a requirement of graduating from Florida High Schools. Currently, Florida schools require credits in English and Mathematics. The results of the focus study was were surprising. The results ended in not requiring a World religions course to be a requirement of graduation WORKS CITED Works Cited ABC News. ABC Internet News, 29 July Web. 29 Mar Blackstone, John. "Teaching Not Preaching In CA Bible Belt." CBS News. CBS News, 11 Feb Web. 29 Mar Haynes, Charles C. "A Teacher’s Guide to Religion in the Public Schools." First Amendment Center. Nashville: Firstamendmentcenter.org, First Amendment Center. Web. 29 Mar Lee County Public Schools. School District of Lee County, Web. 6 Apr Robinson, B. A. "TYPICAL CONFLICTS ABOUT RELIGIOUS TEACHINGS IN SCHOOL." Religious Tolerance.org. Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, 11 Oct Web. 29 Mar Schiffman, Richard. "Why We Need to Start Teaching About Religions in School." Huffington Post. HuffingtonPost, 3 Apr Web. 29 Mar US Const. amend. I. U.S. Constitution. Web. 29 Mar LITERATURE REVIEW Under the current Lee County School District, 24 ½ credits are needed to graduate high school (Lee County Public Schools). There was an attempt at including a World Religions Course in the past (Robinson) but that did not work so well. Texas has a lot of influence being the second largest school district in the US (ABC News) should they follow in Modesto, CA steps of making it mandatory to include a World Religions Course (Blackstone)? Would people feel that someone may be offended in same with the teachings (Schiffman)? CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS Based on the responses, it is still not a priority as it is in Modesto, Ca for a World Religions course to be a mandatory requirement. The majority surveyed adults felt it was best to not have any type of religion teachings be part of the school curriculum as if students wanted to broaden their horizons about World Religions, they could take it as an elective but they should not be forced to learn about other religions. If Florida was to base their decision on this survey, a World Religions course would not be part of the curriculum or a requirement for receiving a High School Diploma.