Religion in Schools
Should public schools include more religion than they currently do, or would that just create violations of the separation of church and state? Should prayer and Bible reading once again become part of public school life? Is religion necessary to maintain good behavior?
School Prayer Cases - Court Rulings on Prayer in Public Schools
To what extent, if any, may the government allow prayers at the graduation ceremonies of public schools? The answer is simple, although difficult to apply in practice: if the government has any say or controlling function over the words being said, then prayer and evangelism may not be a part of those words. This is the underlying principle which ties together a number of important court cases de…
To what extent, if any, may the government allow prayers at the graduation ceremonies of public schools? The answer is simple, although difficult to apply in practice: if the government has any say or controlling function over the words being said, then prayer and evangelism may not be a part of those words. This is the underlying principle which ties together a number of important court cases de…
Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe (2000)
One tactics used by conservative Christians to introduce more official prayers into schools is to get students to vote on prayers. In communities where one sort of Christianity dominates, the outcome of voting can be predicted and defended as the 'private' speech of students. Courts, though, have ruled that prayers done on under the auspices of government supervision, with government approval, and with government equipment, is effectively government speech and thus must be restricted.
One tactics used by conservative Christians to introduce more official prayers into schools is to get students to vote on prayers. In communities where one sort of Christianity dominates, the outcome of voting can be predicted and defended as the 'private' speech of students. Courts, though, have ruled that prayers done on under the auspices of government supervision, with government approval, and with government equipment, is effectively government speech and thus must be restricted.
Cole v. Oroville Union High School (1999)
Are speeches given by students during graduation ceremonies fully private speech, protected by the First Amendment, or are they in some fashion also government-approved speeches, thus restricted by the same First Amendment? Students giving the speeches see themselves as engaging in wholly private speech, but this ignores the context of a state ceremony where government officials have final say over who says what and when. This makes graduation ceremonies state functions.
Are speeches given by students during graduation ceremonies fully private speech, protected by the First Amendment, or are they in some fashion also government-approved speeches, thus restricted by the same First Amendment? Students giving the speeches see themselves as engaging in wholly private speech, but this ignores the context of a state ceremony where government officials have final say over who says what and when. This makes graduation ceremonies state functions.
Jones v. Clear Creek School District (1992)
If government officials do not have the authority to write prayers for public school students or even to encourage and endorse prayers, can they allow the students themselves vote on whether or not to have one of their own recite prayers during school? Some Christians tried this method of getting official prayers into public schools and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that it's constitutional for students to vote on having prayers during graduation ceremonies.
If government officials do not have the authority to write prayers for public school students or even to encourage and endorse prayers, can they allow the students themselves vote on whether or not to have one of their own recite prayers during school? Some Christians tried this method of getting official prayers into public schools and the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that it's constitutional for students to vote on having prayers during graduation ceremonies.
ACLU v. Black Horse Regional Board of Education (1995)
Religious invocations, including sectarian prayer, are popular components of high school graduation ceremonies across America. Many Christians expect their religion to be part of graduation ceremonies and don't care that not all students are Christians, much less that both Christian and non-Christian students and parents might object to religion being inserted into an official government function. Many courts agree with the dissenters and have ruled religious invocations as unconstitutional.
Religious invocations, including sectarian prayer, are popular components of high school graduation ceremonies across America. Many Christians expect their religion to be part of graduation ceremonies and don't care that not all students are Christians, much less that both Christian and non-Christian students and parents might object to religion being inserted into an official government function. Many courts agree with the dissenters and have ruled religious invocations as unconstitutional.
Wallace v. Jaffree (1985)
Can public schools endorse or encourage prayer if they do so in the context of endorsing and encouraging 'silent meditation' as well? Some Christians thought this would be a good way to smuggle official prayers back into the school day, but courts rejected their arguments and the Supreme Court found the practice unconstitutional. According to the court, such laws have a religious rather than a secular purpose, though all the justices had different opinions as to why exactly the law was invalid.
Can public schools endorse or encourage prayer if they do so in the context of endorsing and encouraging 'silent meditation' as well? Some Christians thought this would be a good way to smuggle official prayers back into the school day, but courts rejected their arguments and the Supreme Court found the practice unconstitutional. According to the court, such laws have a religious rather than a secular purpose, though all the justices had different opinions as to why exactly the law was invalid.
Abington School District v. Schempp & Murray v. Curlett (1963)
Do public school officials have the authority to pick a particular version or translation of the Christian Bible and have children read passages from that Bible every day? There was a time when such practices occurred in many school districts across the country but they were challenged alongside school prayers and ultimately the Supreme Court found the tradition to be unconstitutional. Schools cannot pick Bibles to be read or recommend that Bibles be read.
Do public school officials have the authority to pick a particular version or translation of the Christian Bible and have children read passages from that Bible every day? There was a time when such practices occurred in many school districts across the country but they were challenged alongside school prayers and ultimately the Supreme Court found the tradition to be unconstitutional. Schools cannot pick Bibles to be read or recommend that Bibles be read.
Graduation Prayers in Public Schools - Case Law on Graduation Prayers
Questions about the constitutionality of graduation and commencement prayers are difficult to answer because the case law varies across the nation. The Supreme Court hasn't had a lot to say about graduation prayers specifically, though they have ruled on school prayers in other contexts, so the rulings of lower courts can have more authority over what is and is not legal for schools to do. This means that the same graduation prayers may be legal in one area of the country but not in another.
Questions about the constitutionality of graduation and commencement prayers are difficult to answer because the case law varies across the nation. The Supreme Court hasn't had a lot to say about graduation prayers specifically, though they have ruled on school prayers in other contexts, so the rulings of lower courts can have more authority over what is and is not legal for schools to do. This means that the same graduation prayers may be legal in one area of the country but not in another.
Prayer in Public Schools
The status of religion generally and prayer in particular are important for America's Christian Right. Many see public schools as a site of indoctrination: kids are already being indoctrinated into communism, secular humanism, and feminism; they would rather have their beliefs promoted by the state with prayer, Bible reading, official religious events, and more. Prayer, though, is a primary focus…
The status of religion generally and prayer in particular are important for America's Christian Right. Many see public schools as a site of indoctrination: kids are already being indoctrinated into communism, secular humanism, and feminism; they would rather have their beliefs promoted by the state with prayer, Bible reading, official religious events, and more. Prayer, though, is a primary focus…
School Prayer
Prayer in public schools is a contentious issue, and one which seems to arouse the most anger and the most passion among people on both sides of the table. Can kids pray in school? Should kids pray in school? What role can or should schools have when it comes to prayers? Is a "moment of silence" permitted or not?
Prayer in public schools is a contentious issue, and one which seems to arouse the most anger and the most passion among people on both sides of the table. Can kids pray in school? Should kids pray in school? What role can or should schools have when it comes to prayers? Is a "moment of silence" permitted or not?
School Holidays: Good Friday & Easter
Good Friday is a Christian Holy Day which many Christians would surely like to have off from school, but does that mean that governments should grant it official recognition over and above the holy days of other religions? Are official school holidays on Good Friday constitutional?
Good Friday is a Christian Holy Day which many Christians would surely like to have off from school, but does that mean that governments should grant it official recognition over and above the holy days of other religions? Are official school holidays on Good Friday constitutional?
School Holidays: Christmas
Traditionally, public schools in America have been very explicit in their celebration of the Christmas season - for students, it has been a Christmas holiday season, a Christmas break, and celebratory events were specifically oriented towards Christmas. So long as America has been predominantly Christian in composition, such a focus went unchallenged and even unnoticed by the majority.
Traditionally, public schools in America have been very explicit in their celebration of the Christmas season - for students, it has been a Christmas holiday season, a Christmas break, and celebratory events were specifically oriented towards Christmas. So long as America has been predominantly Christian in composition, such a focus went unchallenged and even unnoticed by the majority.
School Vouchers: Arguments Against Vouchers
Twelve common arguments used to explain why vouchers for private and religious schools will not help schools and/or would violate the separation of church and state.
Twelve common arguments used to explain why vouchers for private and religious schools will not help schools and/or would violate the separation of church and state.
School Vouchers: Arguments For Vouchers
Ten of the most common arguments used to support the case that the government should offer children vouchers to attend private - and even religious - schools.
Ten of the most common arguments used to support the case that the government should offer children vouchers to attend private - and even religious - schools.
Religion in Public Schools
The presence and extent of religion in public schools is one of the most difficult church/state issues. Some believe that a lack of religion in the schools "teaches" atheism or secular humanism, resulting in a decline in morality and performance. Others believe that state sanctioned religion and state supported religious observances infringe upon the religious liberties of all students.
The presence and extent of religion in public schools is one of the most difficult church/state issues. Some believe that a lack of religion in the schools "teaches" atheism or secular humanism, resulting in a decline in morality and performance. Others believe that state sanctioned religion and state supported religious observances infringe upon the religious liberties of all students.