PUTTING RELIGION BACK : STUDY WOULD BENEFIT SCHOOLS, STOKKA SAYS.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Daily News Staff Writer

High school trustee Sue Stokka believes conflicts among students and staff over religion and race can be assuaged by teaching about religion.

Stokka wants the board to adopt a philosophy she says is described in ``Finding Common Ground: A First Amendment Guide to Religion and Public Education,'' a resource for school officials on the issue of religion in public schools.

``Initially, my resolution adopts the philosophy of that program, which is to reintroduce into the school system the rightful place of religion through the teaching of respect and responsibility,'' Stokka said Friday. ``Over the last few decades, there has been confusion over what is appropriate in public schools with regard to religion and values.''

The Antelope Valley Union High School District board discussed Stokka's resolution at Wednesday's meeting. It will come back for a vote at the next board meeting, May 15.

Public schools may not provide religious instruction, but they can teach about religion, under current law. Stokka said the program would allow instruction about religion in a ``nondoctrinal way.''

Trustee Bill Olenick said Friday that he wants to study the matter further before deciding whether it's a good idea.

``For my own personal satisfaction, I need to do research,'' Olenick said. ``What is the intent, is there a plan to bring curriculum forward?''

Olenick queried Stokka at the meeting if it would involve bringing in speakers or establishing a new curriculum.

``It's more of a philosophical statement and overall approach to life in general,'' Stokka responded. ``It's a great tool for conflict resolution. It works through issues of respect and responsibility where you respect a person's right to a religious view or a political view. It's equal opportunity for all groups. We have a right to differ and to accept differences.''

Stokka also said Wednesday that, ``There is a question of fairness with which education treats religion. There's a denial that religion exists. It's an appropriate element of life. It's well within the Constitution, and it's a constitutionally protected right.''

``Finding Common Ground'' is published by the Freedom Forum First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., whose stated mission is to foster a better public understanding of and appreciation for First Amendment rights and values, including freedom of religion, free speech and press, and the right to petition government and to assemble peacefully, according to one of the center's publications.

``It's a guideline for boards, school administrators, teachers and parents on religion in public education using the First Amendment as a framework on how to live with deep religious differences,'' said John Leach, the center's project coordinator.

The guide contains a history of religious liberty in America and a survey of U.S. Supreme Court decisions concerning religion in public schools; recommended curriculum; information about religion in curriculum and religious holidays in public schools; and ``strategies for finding common ground,'' Leach said.

The center is an offshoot of the Freedom Forum, a nonprofit foundation formed by Frank E. Gannett in 1935 but now operating independently of the Gannett media company.

Unlike a proposed course at Littlerock High School that focused on racism and was criticized by Stokka as divisive, ``Finding Common Ground'' represents a positive approach to conflict resolution, Stokka said.

Instead of zeroing in on racism, ``negative history'' and casting blame, the new focus would be on setting aside differences to reach an understanding, Stokka said.

Applying those principles, schools can teach about religion to reach a middle ground, Stokka said. Students can be taught to show respect for religious differences, and that can be tied into doing the same for racial differences, she said.