The Practice of Religion in Public Schools - 762 Words

The Practice of Religion in Public Schools The â€Å"establishment† or â€Å"religion† clause of the First Amendment of the Constitution reads: â€Å"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof† (Education Week, 2003, para. 2). It is from this clause that the idea of separation of church and state comes. It is also the basis for much of the debate regarding the practice of religion in public schools (Education Week, 2003). One of the big questions regarding the religion issue is where to draw the line between separation of church and state and religious freedom. The practice of religion in public schools can balance these two ends by allowing students to individually†¦show more content†¦In 1995, the Clinton administration attempted to put an end to the confusion surrounding the practice of religion in public schools. As directed by the President, U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley sent out guidelines on Religious Exp ression in Public Schools to every school district in the country. Since issuing these guidelines, students, teachers, parents, and school officials have found it easier to compromise on these issues. By spelling out exactly what religious activities are permitted in schools, the possibility for a lawsuit is diminished because everyone has a common understanding of what is and what is not constitutionally permissible (Riley, 2000). The guidelines are derived from the First Amendment. As a whole, they declare that schools cannot forbid students to individually express their religious views or beliefs. At the same time, schools cannot endorse religious activity, such as school-led prayer. (Riley, 2000). The guidelines issued by the Secretary of Education list several religious activities that have become issues in public schools and proceed to explain to what extent those activities can be carried out. For example, on the issue of student prayer, the guidelines state that students are permitted to pray so long as it is not disruptive to others. On the other hand, prayer organized by schools at graduations is not permitted by the guidelines. TeachersShow MoreRelatedPublic Schools Should Not Be The Place For Religious Practices1601 Words   |  7 PagesOne of the many foundations of the United States as a nation was religion. When people fled their homes in search of a new place, one of the many reasons was due to religious freedom. Almost immediately conflicts arose between religions, and their belief systems. No problems seem to arise with teaching religion to children in school until the 1900 s. That is when the courts decided religious instructions in public schools would be d eemed unconstitutional. Court cases started around the country withRead More Prevent Coercive Prayer In Public Schools Essay1392 Words   |  6 Pages Prevent Coercive Prayer in Public Schools The First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America reads: quot;Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.quot; This amendment, commonly called the Establishment Clause, forms the foundation of the right of every American to practice their chosen religion freely and without the interference of the government. In 1947, the Supreme Court issued a statement emphasizingRead MorePrayer in Public Schools Essay1440 Words   |  6 Pages The United States has continued to be a country where religion plays a major role in the lives of American citizens. Depending on the type of school students attend, organized prayer is mandatory, allowed, or banned. 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Therefore a coach is not allowed to engage in any activity that the school itself is forbidden fromRead MoreReligious Accommodation For Public Schools Essay955 Words   |  4 PagesReligion Debate Papers â€Å"Freedom of religion includes both the right to manifest beliefs and practices and the right to be free from state coercion or constraint in matters of religion ().† One of the most controversial places in which freedom of religion manifests itself is the public school. In order to protect freedom of religion, it is important to make sense of how a school must treat religion so the school does not compromise its role within society. This paper will establish current rulingsRead MoreReligious Accommodation For Public Schools1128 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Freedom of religion includes both the right to manifest beliefs and practices and the right to be free from state coercion or constraint in matters of religion ().† One of the most controversial places in which freedom of religion manifests itself is the public school. In order to protect freedom of religion, it is important to make sense of how a school must treat religion so the school does not compromise its ro le within society. This paper will establish current rulings on religion in public schoolRead MorePrayer In Schools Has Been A Much Talked About Debate In1434 Words   |  6 Pages Prayer in schools has been a much talked about debate in America over the past half-century. Conservatives, trying to regulate the religious freedoms of Americans , have tried numerous times to pass amendments that allow private student-led prayer in the classrooms(Baik, 243). 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