Religious Freedom and Freedom of Speech

 Freedoms of Religion ◦ The Establishment Clause ◦ The Free Exercise Clause  Freedoms of Expression ◦ Freedom of Speech ◦ Freedom of Assembly ◦ Freedom of the Press ◦ Freedom to Petition Government for Redress

 Examine the image as it appears on the screen. Do not shout out information!  Write the name of the image and the religion associated with the image.

Yin & Yang Daoism

Christmas Tree Christianity

Crescent Moon & Star Islam

Dradle Judais m

Ganesh Hinduis m

Menorah Judaism

Nativity Scene Christianity

Star of David Judaism

Crucifix Christianit y

10 Commandments Judaism & Christianity

 How did you feel viewing these symbols?  Did any of them offend you? Why or why not?  When and where might you expect to see these symbols?  Where might a “strange” place be to see these symbols?  If you saw these symbols placed together at Maple Park, would that upset you? Why or why not?  Would that violate “separation of church & state?”

 “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or ◦ The Establishment Clause  prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” ◦ The Free Exercise Clause  What is the difference?  From where do we get the phrase “separation of church & state?”

 Who interprets the law?  How does the SCOTUS decide if a violation exists?  Discuss the Lemon test.

 Watch the video.  Complete the assignment for p. 41 of notebook.  Arguments for Lynch (Pawtucket)?  Arguments for Donnelly (ACLU)?  Your decision?

In a 5-to-4 decision, the Court held that notwithstanding the religious significance of the crèche, the city had not violated the Establishment Clause. The Court found that the display, viewed in the context of the holiday season, was not a purposeful or surreptitious effort to advocate a particular religious message. The Court found that the display merely depicted the historical origins of the Holiday and had "legitimate secular purposes." The Court held that the symbols posed no danger of establishing a state church and that it was "far too late in the day to impose a crabbed reading of the [Establishment] Clause on the country." Source: The Oyez Project, Lynch v. Donnelly, 465 U.S. 668 (1984) available at: ( (last visited Wednesday, July 29, 2009).

 Both viewed as “human rights.”  Symbols can express both freedoms.  Both freedoms can be very divisive.  Both freedoms are open to interpretation.  Both have limits.

 Freedoms of Expression ◦ Freedom of Speech  Spoken vs. Symbolic ◦ Freedom of Assembly  Why is this the most regulated? ◦ Freedom of the Press  Why is the Press called the “4 th Branch of government?” ◦ Freedom to Petition Government for Redress

 If the picture arouses a very negative emotion, stand at the -5.  Stand in between -5 and 0 for lesser degrees of negative feelings.  If the symbol arouses no emotion, stand at the 0.  If the picture arouses a very positive emotion, stand at the +5.  Stand in between 0 and +5 for lesser degrees of positive feelings.

1. In what ways do these symbols have multiple meanings? 2. Why did some pictures arouse positive feelings but other symbols arouse negative feelings? 3. What is the difference? 4. How much does history affect how we view some of these symbols? 5. Should citizens be allowed to display these symbols, even though some may be offensive? Why or why not? Discuss quote.

 Why do schools have different rules?  What are the purposes of school?  So, are dress codes legal? Why or why not?  Read court cases. Complete the sheet. Discuss each: ◦ Tinker v. Des Moines ◦ Bethel v. Fraser ◦ Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier ◦ Wallace v. Jaffree

 To whom does our dress code apply?  Why must schools have dress codes?  What kinds of things are prohibited? Why?  What do you feel the dress code fails to address?  Do your parents restrict what you wear to school? Should they?

 Middle and high school students are wearing T- shirts depicting a 9-mm handgun on the front with the words, “If This Don’t Get Ya,” and a picture of an Uzi on the back of the T-shirt with the words, “This One Will.”  A 8th grade girl wears a T-shirt depicting a beer bottle with the caption: “I’d Rather Be Partying.”  A 9th grade girl comes to school with 2 eyebrow piercings and her nose and tongue pierced. “AIDS-Hell No.”  Three high school students wear “safe sex” T- shirts with anti-AIDS messages and clear plastic pockets with condoms in them. Some of the slogans on their shirts are: “Tools for Late Night,” “Deep Cover for the Brother” and “AIDS-Hell No.” “I’m a lesbian. So what?”  A female senior wears a T-shirt with the caption: “I’m a lesbian. So what?”

 Read 4.2. Complete the BOR organizer for p. 40. You need to read text, but can use Chrome Books to help with interpretation of questions.  Due Tomorrow.