"Jeff Strickland" <spamcatcher@yahoo.net> wrote:
:|
:|"Maverick" <justgopub...@nomail.com> wrote in message
:|news:ypX2e.6792137$f47.1249994@news.easynews.com...
:|>
:|>
:|> Why not just allow the Constitution a chance for once and let the people
:|of
:|> the district act in their own interest? If they elect to freely express
:|> their religious beliefs in a school setting, who are we to stop them?
:|>
:|> The answer to that will surely be "we are tax payers". Doubtful that will
:|> wash. A case could easily be made on behalf of the district taxpayers that
:|> they pay more into the tax sack than they get back and as such they are
:|only
:|> getting back their own money and can spend it as they choose.
:|>
:|>
:|
:|Especially when the class is an elective one.
:|
:|If the school rounded up the kids and forced them to take the class, then
:|that is a matter to look very closely at because it would arguably impose
:|religious exposure onto unwilling children, much the same argument that
:|banned prayers at the football games. But, if the class was an option that
:|interested students would have to request to get into, then many of the
:|objections should go away.
:|
http://64.233.187.104/search?q=cache:bAlpSHc86vsJ:www.religioustolerance.org/ps_pra9.htm+bible+classes+in+public+schools+reasons+against&hl=en
http://makeashorterlink.com/?Y6EE23BCA
What the constitution allows:
Again, this is in a state of flux. As of early 1999, the following
activities are permitted. In fact, they are more than allowed. They are
constitutionally protected as freedom of speech, religion and assembly
rights:
Graduation ceremonies: Some invocations, benedictions and prayers
at graduation ceremonies. This is very much a gray area as far as court
rulings is concerned. More details.
Teaching religion: The positive and negative effects of religion on
society may be studied in history, literature, comparative religion, and
other courses. Comparative religion classes are allowed, as long as one
religion is not presented as being superior to any another, or as absolute
truth. Bible study is allowed, as long as the texts from other religions
are also studied. Schools can communicate the broad field of religion but
not indoctrinate their students in a particular faith.
Student religious clubs: If the school receives federal funds, then
it must obey the federal Equal Access Act of 1984. Students are free to
organize Bible study and other religious special interest clubs if any
other secular clubs are allowed. The school may prohibit religious clubs,
but only if it prohibits all student groups. Religious clubs must be given
the same access to school facilities (space to meet, permission to
advertise on school bulletin boards, permission to have announcements read
over the PA system, inclusion in the year book, etc.) as do other clubs.
Group meetings must be "voluntary and student initiated." There must be no
"sponsorship" of the meetings by the school. "Non-school persons may not
direct, conduct, control, or regularly attend" the activities. One effect
of this law is the flourishing of Christian clubs in public schools. The
American Civil Liberties Union estimates that 10,000 Christian clubs are
operating in U.S. high schools. 2 More information
Moment of silence: Having students engage in a moment of silence
during which they can pray, meditate, plan their day, or engage in any
other silent mental activity. In late 2000, a federal court affirmed the
constitutionality of the moment of silence law which came into effect in
Virginia on 2000-APR-1. The decision is under appeal by the ACLU. The
Natural Law Project promotes this alternative. 4
bullet Prayer outside of school building: Students can organize prayers on
school property outside the classroom. e.g. they can conduct group prayer
meetings at the school flagpole.
School religious speech: Students can carry Bible or other
religious texts to and in school. They can pray before eating. A student
can pray on the school bus, in the cafeteria, in classrooms before and
after class, in the corridors, in the washrooms, etc. They can wear
T-shirts with religious text. They can wear religious jewelry (buttons,
symbols). They can hand out religious materials. They can freely talk about
religion to fellow students, outside of class. They can pray before eating
in the cafeteria. These are well-known freedoms guaranteed by the U.S.
Constitution. Yet not everyone is aware of these forms of protected speech.
Bill Keane's cartoon "Family Circus" for 1999-NOV-15 shows a mother waving
at two children leaving the house. She says "Get to school safely." The
caption reads "Chances are they will as long as they're allowed to pray on
that old school bus."
Rental of school facilities: Many religious organizations rent
school facilities after hours. Past court decisions generally supported
this right, if rooms are also rented to secular groups. Court rulings
specified that schools can refuse to rent to religious groups, but then
they cannot rent to outside secular organizations as well. However, recent
court decisions have split on this issue.
Teaching of evolution: Schools may require their teachers to
explain evolution as a scientific theory, as supported by 95% of
scientists. This would include teachers who might not believe evolution to
be true because of their personal religious grounds.
Teacher display of religion: Teachers may be prohibited from
displaying a Bible on their desk or from placing religious posters on the
classroom wall. This would imply state support for a specific religion.
In summary, the law guarantees students' fundamental religious freedoms
while requiring the school to maintain a religiously neutral environment.
Sometimes the latter requires some limitations on teachers' freedoms. A
1996-JUN court decision by the US District Court for the Northern District
of Mississippi covers many of the above items, including prayer over a
school-wide intercom, a pre-school religious group, classroom prayer,
teaching a Bible class and religious instruction in a history class. The
text of the court order
http://home.olemiss.edu/~llibcoll/ndms/june96/96d0084p.html
is also available on the Internet.
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The Constitutional Principle: Separation of Church and State
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HRSepCnS · Hampton Roads SepChurch&State
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