1. Chapter 2 Religion and the Public Schools
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The First Amendment serves as the basis for delineating certain individual religious rights and freedoms, as well as governmental prohibitions regarding religion.
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution states:
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“Congress shall make no laws respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”
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While the initial intent of the First Amendment prohibited Congress from making laws supporting religion or prohibiting the rights of individuals to exercise their religious rights, the United States Supreme Court, in a compelling decision, Cantwell v. Connecticut, held that this prohibition aimed at Congress also applied to the States as well.
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The First Amendment contains two essential clauses regarding religion--the establishment clause and the free exercise clause.
The establishment clause prohibits the state from passing laws that aid a religion or show preference of one religion over another.
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The free exercise clause prohibits the state from interfering with individual religious freedoms.
The combined effect of these two clauses compels public schools as state agencies to maintain a neutral position regarding religious matters in their daily operations.
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The U.S. Supreme Court held in the Schempp and Murray cases that school speech and Bible reading is unconstitutional.
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8. Silent Prayer and Meditation
The United States Supreme Court, in 1985, responded to silent meditation and prayer by ruling in the Wallace v. Jaffree case that a period of silence set aside for meditation or voluntary prayer in the public school is in violation of the First Amendment.
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9. Aid to Parochial Schools
In cases where evidence reveals that the aid directly benefited the child rather than the parochial school, courts have been permissive in allowing certain types of aid under the “child benefit theory.”
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This theory is valid if parochial children are the primary beneficiaries of a public supported service provided for all children.
Conversely, if the aid serves to primarily benefit parochial schools, it will be deemed impermissible and a violation of the First Amendment.
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The Lemon v. Kurtzman and Early v. Dicenso cases are perhaps the most significant early cases involving state aid to parochial schools.
These cases arose when Rhode Island and Pennsylvania laws providing assistance to parochial schools, their students and teachers were challenged by various citizens and taxpayers.
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The U.S. Supreme Court subsequently held that a law providing a state subsidy for nonpublic school teachers’ salaries is unconstitutional, even when the funds are paid only to teachers of secular subjects.
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Religious Symbols
Public schools may not display religious exhibits or other visual materials.
It may be appropriate, however, for public school teachers to acknowledge and explain the various holidays of all cultural and religious groups as a unit in cultural heritage or some other related subject, as long as a secular purpose is served.
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14. School Sponsored Activities
Commencement exercises and any type of school sponsored prayer at athletic contests is deemed to be a violation of the First Amendment.
The principle of neutrality mandates that public schools must remain neutral in all matters relating to religion.
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15. Prayer at Athletic Contests
Prohibition of prayer at school events was given a major thrust when the U.S. Supreme Court in a 6 to 3 ruling in Santa Fe Independent School District v. Jane Doe banned student led prayer at athletic contests, graduations and other school sponsored events.
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16. Use of School Facilities by Religious Student Groups
Congress attempted to address facility use when it passed the Equal Access Act in 1984 for the expressed purpose of providing student religious clubs equal opportunities to access high school facilities as other non-curricula clubs enjoyed.
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Under federal statute, it is unlawful for any public secondary school that has created a “limited open forum” to deny access to student-initiated groups on the basis of religious, political or philosophical content of their speech.
A limited open forum exists when an administrator allows one or more non-curricula related student groups to meet on school premises during non-instructional time.
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18. Religious Activities and Holiday Programs
The observance of holy days by public school is clearly an unconstitutional activity, if conducted in a devotional atmosphere.
The First Amendment prohibits states from either aiding religion or showing preference of one religion over another.
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Public schools may not celebrate religious holidays.
There should be no worship or devotional services, religious pageants or plays of any nature held in the school.
However, certain programs may be conducted, if a secular purpose is clearly served.
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20. Distribution of Religious Materials
Public school personnel are not permitted to distribute religious materials on school premises.
Such practice would be a clear violation of the Establishment Clause.
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Public school officials also may not allow religious groups to distribute religious materials on school grounds.
Support of such practices would suggest that the school embraces religion and could suggest preference of one religion over another.
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22. Use of Religious Garb by School Personnel
The wearing of religious garb by public school teachers raises the issue as to whether such dress creates a sectarian influence in the classroom.
Many state statutes prohibit public teachers from wearing religious garb in the classroom.
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Pledge of Allegiance
In the West Virginia v. Burnette case, the U.S. Supreme Court held that public school officials may not require students to salute and pledge allegiance to the flag.
It must be strictly voluntary.
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