Abstract The paper shows that In the interests of preserving the civil rights of all Americans, legislation over the past few decades has mandated a conspicuous absence of Christian or Jewish symbols, prayers or teachings from public places-- the classroom, the sports arena, the courts, public buildings of all sorts. Yet, followers of these faiths make up the majority of Americans. The paper discusses that in the wake of the tragedy of September 11, and the previous shocking incidences of student violence at Columbine and other schools, Americans feel the need for increased, rather than decreased, emphasis on religion in the classroom and everywhere their children go. The author of the paper asks what can be done to protect the rights of these citizens to observe the dictates of their beliefs in their daily walk of life outside of their homes and places of worship?
From the Paper "What about the right of Judeo-Christians to display their symbols or other aspects of their beliefs in public places? The national motto is "In God We Trust", and all fifty states have a reference to God in their constitutions, the preambles to the constitutions, and/or on their state seals. Presumably this would constitute a precedent for the mention of God in civil settings. The case of County of Allegheny v. ACLU, Greater Pittsburgh Chapter, 492 U.S. 573 (1989), restricted the display of a Nativity scene on public property. By the so-called "plastic reindeer" test, religious displays should not have to incorporate secular symbols in order to be permissible, any more than secular displays should have to add religious symbols."
This paper discusses several court cases reflecting the fact that many people continue to question the right of the schools to allow or not allow students any religious activities within the school setting.
Abstract This paper explains that, while church and state are to be separate, the government continues to play a vital role in deciding what can or cannot be done within the public school system. The author points out that, during the last century, many court cases have specifically defined the First Amendment and addressed key issues where rulings determined what may or may not be done within the school system concerning religious activities or displays. The paper details three major decisions made by the United States Supreme Court regarding state-approved religious activities in schools and their violations against the United States Constitution. These include Everson vs. Board of Education Court (1945), Engel vs. Vitale (1962), School District of Abington Township, Pennsylvania vs. Schempp (1963)
From the Paper "A student is not banned by the First Amendment to participate in the act of praying while at school. Instead, it prohibits public schools from being actually being involved in the prayers or other religious activities of students. Moments of silence in which individual students may choose to pray are constitutional, so long as teachers neither instruct nor encourage students to use the time for prayer. It is also constitutional for educators to teach the curriculum subjects of religious history, literature, and music if presented as academic and not in a devotional manner."
