Many Americans are familiar with the First Amendment, but its application to prayer and religious activities in public schools is often misunderstood. Religious beliefs are increasingly diverse in the United States. Therefore, it seems imperative that school personnel are aware of the law and sensitive to an array of religious practices. We…

This "fastback" examines the U.S. Supreme Court decisions and a few lower court decisions concerning religion and education rendered in the 1980s, and for background purposes, it also includes some decisions prior to the 1980s. The first of four parts discusses cases pertaining to prayer and religious activities in school. Included in…

Describes citizenship education program for achieving common ground in a multicultural society that emphasizes religious liberty in American democracy protected by the First Amendment. Includes five areas: conflict resolution, consensus building, religion in the curriculum, teacher education, and religious expression in public schools. (Contains…

Discusses the impact of the Equal Access Act (1984) on the secondary school. Examines those court cases which served as the precursors of this act. Notes that the extent of participation by religious groups in an open forum remains to be seen. (KO)

Reviews 1995 court decisions concerning free speech in colleges and universities, focusing on the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment (educator speech, campus speech regulations, speech in public forum), religion clauses (Establishment Clause, Free Exercise Clause) and statutes (Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Equal Access Act). Concludes…

Beyond no-establishment and free-exercise principles, widespread agreement now exists on many thorny church-state questions: school prayer, teaching about religion, Bible clubs, equal access, excusals, distribution of religious literature, religious holidays, creationism, released time, and character education. One issue, speaker versus audience…

Traces legislative history of the Equal Access Act of 1984 and the United States Supreme Court Justices' reasoning in the "Mergens" decision. At least six justices seem to agree that the proper Establishment Clause doctrine is that government can accommodate religion so long as its accommodation is neutral. (MLF)

U.S. Solicitor General Kenneth W. Starr has asked the Supreme Court to abandon the Establishment Clause it formulated in "Lemon v. Kurtzman" (1971) for cases involving governmental accommodation of religion in civic life. Starr's "amicus curiae" in "Lee v. Weisman" questions the clause's persistent tendency to…

Although schools cannot actively promote religiously-oriented activity, neither can they prohibit such activity. The 98th Congress passed the Equal Access Act in an attempt to ground students' rights to practice religion in the schools in well-established constitutional principles requiring equal treatment, protecting student-initiated meetings,…

These guidelines, addressing the extent to which religious expression and activity are permitted in public schools, were originally issued in 1995. Changes have been made in the sections on religious excusals and student garb to reflect the Supreme Court decision in "Boerne v. Flores" declaring the Religious Freedom Restoration Act…

The nature and extent of religious activities in public schools is an unresolved issue. While the teacher-led prayer issue was decided in a 1985 Supreme Court decision, the constitutionality of schools' permitting student groups to meet for religious purposes remains unsettled. Compliance with the establishment clause requires government to remain…

Examines court decisions which led to the passage of the Equal Access Act of 1984. Although the act was designed to clarify the issue over the legality of permitting religious clubs to meet on school property, it may have created more confusion. Concludes that the Supreme Court may have to decide the issue. (SLM)

Describes recent court decisions which have affected equal access to open forums within schools. Reports that there is much confusion surrounding equal access as defined by the courts. Notes that indecision regarding the constitutionality of equal access has led to a flurry of action by schools. Lists questions facing these schools in deciding…