Students Rights 2, Dr. W.A. Kritsonis, Public School Law

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Student Religious ExpressionStudent Religious Expression

in Public Schoolsin Public Schools

 What’s Permissible & What’s Not

William Allan Kritsonis, PhD

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Student religious expressionStudent religious expression

in public schoolsin public schools

Foundation Principles

Dissecting Myths

Overview of What’s Permissible

Overview of What’s NotUntangling “student-initiated”

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Issues/Topics:

 –  Classrooms

 –  Student Clubs –  Release Time

 –  Athletic events

 –  Assemblies

 –  Graduation Ceremonies

 –  Distribution of Literature

 –  Religious Holidays

 –  Student Opt-outs: curriculum, garb, holidays –  Teachers

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Key Word:Key Word:

Sponsorship

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America’s Growing ReligiousAmerica’s Growing Religious

DiversityDiversity

Protestant, Catholic,

Jew 1600 religions &

denominations

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BuddhismBuddhism

3-4 Million Americans

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HinduismHinduism

1.5-2 Million

Americans

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IslamIslam

6-8 Million Americans

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How Religious DiversityHow Religious Diversity

Impacts SchoolsImpacts SchoolsDifferent traditions &

ways to pray

Holidays &observances

Sensitivity to course

content

Attire

Dietary needs

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Foundation PrinciplesFoundation Principles

 Not the business of government to control,support or influence the

kinds of prayer Americanssay.

Government power & prestige behind religion places indirect pressure on

religious minorities toconform to prevailingexpressions.

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“Government must avoid sending messages

to religious minorities that they areoutsiders, not full members of the political

community, and an accompanying message

to adherents that they are insiders, favored

members of the political community.”• Justice Sandra Day O’Connor 

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Trust RelationshipTrust Relationship

“Families entrust public schools with the

education of their children, but condition

their trust on the understanding that theclassroom will not be used to advance

religious views that conflict with the private

 beliefs of the student or his or her family”• Justice William Brennan

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“The place of religion in our society is an

exalted one, but it is not the place of thestate to interfere with the role of the church,

the family, or the inviolable citadel of the

human heart and mind.”• Justice Tom Clark 

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MythsMyths

Students cannot pray, read Bible

Prayer & Bible reading was common prior 

to Court decisionsBible cannot be studied in school

Public schools cannot teach values

Teachers cannot discuss religion or acknowledge holidays

Lack of religion cause of social ills

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Myth: Students cannot pray,Myth: Students cannot pray,

read the Bibleread the BibleFact: Court forbade

school ORGANIZED

or SPONSOREDreligion

Private expression

allowed

Moments of silence

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Myth: Prayer & Bible readingMyth: Prayer & Bible reading

was commonwas common

Fact: Only 1/3 of public

schools had organizedreligious exercises

 before 1962

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Myth: Bible cannot be studiedMyth: Bible cannot be studied

in schoolsin schools

Fact: Court forbade only

inspirational or devotional study

Academic study OK 

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Myth: Public Schools cannotMyth: Public Schools cannot

teach valuesteach values

Fact: Teachers can and

do teach commonvalues: honesty,

respect, trust, civility,

responsibility, etc.

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Myth: Teachers cannotMyth: Teachers cannot

acknowledge religionacknowledge religion

Fact: Religious topics may

 be discussed when

germane

Religious themes part of 

our history, literature &

social relationships

However, teachers may

not use religious

references to proselytize

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Myth: Social problems due toMyth: Social problems due to

lack of school prayer lack of school prayer 

 Non sequitur 

Many causes; nosimple solutions

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What’s PermissibleWhat’s Permissible

Individual & private prayer 

Moments of silence

Student-initiated religious clubs (secondary)

Distribution of religious literature

Student selected assignments/projectsTeach “about” religion

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What’s NotWhat’s Not

Rule: School sponsored, directed, controlled or 

encouraged religious exercises

Teacher-led prayer or Bible reading

Teacher/administrator participating with students

Turning over classrooms to students or outsiders

Prayer/Bible reading over public address system

Prayer/Bible reading at assemblies, concerts, athletic events, other official activities

Presentations or distributions by outsiders

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Quandary: “Student-Led”Quandary: “Student-Led”

Must be truly student-

controlled or student

autonomy Not “student-led” if 

 part of school

sponsored or 

controlled activityStudent votes

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ClassroomsClassrooms

AssignmentsArt-work , projects

Student presentationsTeacher discussions

Teach “about”

religionsMoments of silence

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Student ClubsStudent Clubs

Equal Access Act (1984) (secondary)

Student-initiated & led

Before or after classes

 Non-curriculum related

Similar access to facilities, recognitionTeachers monitor, not participate

Good News Club

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Release TimeRelease Time

School-day religious instruction

Off-campusMeaningful alternatives

Good News Club complication

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Athletic EventsAthletic Events

School controlled and

directed activities

Student-led prayer not permitted

Coach-led prayer 

not permittedTeam  prayers ?

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AssembliesAssemblies

School organized,

controlled events

Outsider access prohibited

Student speech

Public Forum – 

“Equal Treatment?”

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Graduation Prayer Graduation Prayer 

Clergy prayer not

 permitted

Student led for prayer not permitted

Student votesDeep South exception

Baccalaureates

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Student DistributionsStudent Distributions

Same rules as govern

non-religious items

Schools may imposereasonable time, place

& manner limits

Offensive material

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Religious HolidaysReligious Holidays

Observances – OK 

Celebrations – NOT

OK 

Teaching

opportunities

Carols, sacred music

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Student Opt-OutsStudent Opt-Outs

Religious holidays &

attend services

“Offensive” coursematerial

Religious garb

Prayer time?

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EvolutionEvolution

Teaching evolution

 permissible

“Equal time” for creation science or 

“intelligent design”

not permitted

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Ten CommandmentsTen Commandments

Posting of Ten

Commandments in

schools not permittedMay be used in

academic study

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Teacher Religious ExpressionTeacher Religious Expression

Limited Opportunities

(Public Employees)

 Not use classroom toshare faith

 Not participate in

student religious

activities

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PartnershipsPartnerships

Church members may

volunteer to tutor,

mentor in schools Not for proselytizing

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ContactsContacts

American Jewish Congress 212-360-1545

Americans United 202-466-3234

ADL 212-885-7733

Baptist Joint Committee 202-544-4226

Christian Legal Society 703-642-1070

First Amend. Center 703-284-2859

PTA 202-289-6790

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