Entrance Ticket: In the space provided, please write about a situation involving religion and public schools, that you were involved in either as a student, parent, teacher, and/or administrator. You do not need to put your name on the entrance ticket.

Entrance Ticket: In the space provided, please write about a situation involving religion and public schools, that you were involved in either as a student, parent, teacher, and/or administrator. You do not need to put your name on the entrance ticket.

Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment ofreligion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

Parent Student

Teacher Administrator

Considering each persons’ perspective, what questions may arise from the Establishment Clause with regard to religion and public schools? Write your questions for each person in the box representing that person.

Parent Student

Teacher Administrator

Personal Experience with Church and State

Discuss with your group each persons’ perspective regarding the scenario in the center, then in the boxes write questions or concerns to consider from each persons’ perspective. In the administrator box, also include how you would handle the situation.

Is it permissible?

• Is it permissible “to use art, drama, music or literature with religious themes if it serves a sound educational goal in the curriculum” (Dunklee & Shoop, 2002, p. 219)? (YES)

• Is it permissible for parents to opt-out of the health curriculum for religious reasons? (YES)• Is it permissible for the Gideons to pass out bibles to students as students are dismissed from school, on the outer

perimeter of the school property? (YES)• Is it permissible for a teacher to facilitate a class discussion regarding civic values and ethics? (YES)• Is it permissible for a teacher to include comparing religions as a part of the academic curriculum in a World Geography

class? (YES)• Is it permissible for a choir concert program to be comprised of only Christian themed holiday music selections? (NO)• Is it permissible for a teacher to pass out a flyer for a summer Bible class that he is teaching to his students (Dunklee &

Shoop, 2002)? (No)• Is it permissible for a teacher to read the Bible during the Sustained Silent Reading in class with students present? (NO)• Is it permissible for a students to hold an informal prayer group on school grounds before the school day officially begins?

(YES)

• Is it permissible for a teacher to wear a cross necklace daily to school? (YES)• Is it permissible for a school to deny a student’s absence for a religious holiday? (NO)• Is it permissible “to excuse a student from particular lessons if the school cannot prove a compelling interest in requiring

attendance” (Dunklee & Shoop, 2002, p. 219)? (YES)• Is it permissible for a school division to have a policy stating that religious materials may be utilized solely for academic

purposes? (YES)• Is it permissible for an art teacher to show various examples of art to include some with religious themes as examples for an

upcoming assignment? (YES)• Is it permissible for a teacher to sponsor the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Club that meets after school? (YES)• Is it permissible for a coach to require all of her athletes to attend a Fellowship of Christian Athletes Club meeting prior to

every game? (NO)• Is it permissible for a student to pray quietly prior to eating lunch in the cafeteria? (YES)• Is it permissible for parents to require a school to provide a private place for their child to pray everyday? (NO)• Is it permissible to have books with a variety of religious themes in the school library? (YES)• Is it permissible to require a student to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance? (NO)

Reference:

Dunklee, D.R. & Shoop, R. J. (2002). The principal’s quick-reference guide to school law. California: Corwin Press, Inc.