Ch 2: Religion and Public Schools
religious services
held on a regular basis would violate the establishment clause
Student may pass out religious pamphlets
if the distribution does not interfere with normal school activities or create material or substantial disruption
School Sponsored prayer
illegal and cannot be justified based on First Amendment prohibitions
Private voluntary prayer by a student
is permissible under the free exercise clause of the first amendment
Voluntary student-led prayer
likely pass court scrutiny when it is initiated solely by students without involvement of school personnel
voluntary student led prayer
likely pass court scrutiny when it is initiated solely by students without involvement of school personnel
Wearing religious garb by teachers
may b disallowed if their dress creates a reverent atmosphere
No form of religious discrimination
may be used to influence decisions regarding employment, promotion, salary increments, transfers, demotions, or dismissals
Public Schools and religious exhibits or other visual materials
may not display, but can acknowledge and explain the various holidays of all cultural and religious groups as a unit in cultural heritage as long as a secular purpose is served
Teachers assigned to teach the Bible
must be properly instructed on how and what to teach
religious rights of teachers
must be respected, as long as they do not violate the establishment clause of the First Amendment by creating excessive entanglement in the school
Bible Teaching
must be taught objectively and in a strict secular manner
Public schools as state agencies
must maintain a neutral position in their daily operations regarding religious matters; state can neither aid nor inhibit religion
closed forum
no clubs are allowed to use school facilities during noninstructional hours
Free dress
not punished for beliefs
school sponsored holiday programs
permitted if they are not conducted in a religious atmosphere
Sixth Circuit Court
prayer at school board meetings is potentially coercive to students in attendance; endorses a religion
Epperson
prevented lawmakers from banning the teaching of evolution in public schools since it is a science rather than a secular religion; biological evolution is a fact; discretion of the school board to include evolution
Student initiated prayer
probably permissible at school events when not endorsed by school officials
free exercise clause
prohibits the state from interfering with individual religious freedoms
establishment clause
prohibits the state from passing laws that aid a religion or show preferences for one religion over another
child benefit theory
public aid directly benefits the child rather than the parochial school; valid if parochial children are the primary beneficiaries of a public supported service provided for all children; if aid serves to benefit primarily parochial schools, it will be deemed impermissible and a violation of the 1st Amendment
School officials must make reasonable accommodations for teachers
regarding observance of special religious holidays, as long as such accommodations are not deemed excessive or disruptive to the educational process
limited open forum
school grants an offering to or opportunity for one or more noncurriculum related student groups to meet on school premises during noninstructional time; before or after school
When teaching the Bible, teachers
should not create a devotional (religious) atmosphere when teaching the Bible
Parochial School tuition
tuition reimbursement is deemed unconstitutional
Equal Access Act of 1984
under federal statute, it is unlawful for any public secondary school that receives federal financial assistance that has created a "limited open forum" to deny access to student-initiated groups on the basis of religion, political, or philosophical content to 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
School authorities must respect the free exercise rights of students
unless the exercise of those rights violates the rights of others or disrupts the educational process
Primary Effect Test
used to determine the impact of the statute and practice relating to each case; raises the question of whether the primary purpose of the law or practice has the effect of advancing or inhibiting religion and creating excessive entanglement between church and state; violation of First Amendment
Invocations at school sponsored athletic activities
violate the establishment clause of the First Amendment
Prayer at school board meetings
violates the establishment clause, creates excessive entanglement, and cannot be justified on the basis that such meetings are similar to legislative sessions rather than school events
Prayer at School Board Meetings
violates the establishment clause, creates excessive entanglement, and cannot be justified on the basis that such meetings are similar to legislative sessions rather than school events (Sixth Circuit Court)
Institutionally sponsored public prayer
violation of the establishment clause of the First Amendment;
silent meditation or any other type of devotional activity sanctioned by schools
will not be supported by the courts
Kitzler v Dover
teaching intelligent design is unconstitutional because it carries religious connotations
Teachers may be requested to present documentable evidence
that a religious belief or right is violated
Schempp Case
Bible-reading practices are unconstitutional and found to be advancement of religion and a clear violation of the separation of church and state; use of Bible for historical, literary, ethical, or philosophical document is permissible if a secular purpose is clearly served
Ten Commandments
U.S Supreme Court held that posting of the Ten Commandments in a public school setting is unconstitutional
Engle v Vitale
U.S. Supreme Court banned prayer in any form in all school activities across the nation, based on a violation of the establishment clause of the First Amendment
Pledge of Allegiance
students may not be compelled to recite based on their right to freedom of expression
Reynolds v United States
1879; U.S. Supreme Court invoked Thomas Jefferson's view that there should be a wall of separation between church and state
Jones v Clear Creek Independent School District
Fifth Circuit Court held that (voluntary) non-sponsored, student-initiated prayer at graduation ceremonies did not offend the First Amendment prohibition regarding separation of church and state; exercise of students' First Amendment right to freedom of speech
Religious holidays
First Amendment prohibits states from either aiding religion or showing preference for one religion or another; no worship or devotional services nor religious pageants or plays of any nature should be held in any school. Certain programs allowed if a secular purpose is clearly served
Everson case
Neither state or Federal Government can not set up a church; cannot pass laws that aid one religion, aid all religions, or prefer one religion over another; cannot force or influence a person to go to or remain away from church against their will or force him to profess a belief or disbelief;
Cantwell v Connecticut
Precendent; 14th Amendment made the 1st Amendment applicable to state action; providing the same constitutional guarantees to citizens against state infringement of their religious rights by prohibiting the establishment of religious practices in public schools
Lemon Test
three part establishment clause test: a state practice that is challenged as unconstitutional must meet the criteria that it has a secular purpose, that its practice neither advances nor prohibits religion, and that it does not foster excessive entanglement between the state and religion
Teachers should not be coerced
to participate in nonacademic ceremonies or activities that violate their educational beliefs or convictions
Santa Fe case
U.S. Supreme Court ruling does not prevent students from discussing religion in public school or praying publicly, as long as such activities are voluntary; allows student athletes to voluntarily engage in prayer at an athletic event as long as school officials remain completely neutral
Student clubs and religious clubs
allow both to meet on school premises; same privileges; especially where there are ideological differences between the administration and the student groups
release time for religious instruction
allowed if evidence reveals that no public school resources were used; violates the establishment clause if public school resources are used
School-sponsored Bible reading in public school
an illegal activity; Bible may be used as an instructional document to meet a secular purpose
Athletic Contests
any type of school sponsored prayer at athletic contest is a violation under the establishment clause of the First Amendment
Engle Case (Supreme Court Case)
bans prayer in public schools; prayer was religious in nature and violated the establishment clause of the First Amendment (school sponsored non-denominational, voluntary prayer, recited)
No Child Left Behind Act
district is required to certify in writing to their state agencies that no local district policy prevents or denies participation in constitutionally protected prayer in their public schools. (condition of NCLB funding)
Establishment clause of the First Amendment
does not prohibit student initiated private prayer; students have the right to pray voluntarily any time and any place as long as it is private, strictly voluntary and does not infringe on the rights of others.
US court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
editorial control of mural because it was school-sponsored speech that could be considered part of the curriculum; not censorship
Free speech right of students in religious matters
editorial control over murals because they were school-sponsored speech that could be considered part of the curriculum
