Can public schools assign reading material that contains Christianity fasting sacrifice practices??

Question

My daughter read Life As We Knew It in 6th grade(11 yrs old). It intails a pastor convincing a girl to starve herself so the rest of the congregation will have faith that God is on their side during an end of the world situation.  The girl sucums to the practice and dies. She refused to listen to anyone who told her to eat and dink and referred to them as non believers.  
My daughter had to do a report on the book and the class was assigned to evaluated this situation on weather or not they thought it was wrong, what they would do differently.... 
They said it was utopian book helping them find their voice.

James L. Arrasmith · Answer

Under California law, public schools can assign reading material that contains references to Christianity, fasting, and sacrifice practices, as long as the material is part of a curriculum that serves an educational purpose and is not intended to promote or endorse any particular religious belief.  
 
However, it is important for schools to be sensitive to the age-appropriateness of such material and ensure that it is presented in a way that encourages critical thinking and discussion rather than indoctrination. In your specific case, the book "Life As We Knew It" was likely chosen as a way to stimulate classroom discussions about ethical dilemmas and personal choices, which can be valuable for students' intellectual and moral development.  
 
If you have concerns about the content or approach, it may be advisable to discuss them with your child's teacher or the school administration to gain a better understanding of the educational goals and how they align with your values and expectations.

Q: Can public schools assign reading material that contains Christianity fasting sacrifice practices??