Charles C. Haynes

Dr. Charles C. Haynes is director of the Religious Freedom Education Project at the Newseum and a senior scholar at the First Amendment Center. He writes and speaks extensively on religious liberty and religion in American public life.

Haynes is best known for his work on First Amendment issues in public schools. Over the past two decades, he has been the principal organizer and drafter of consensus guidelines on religious liberty in schools, endorsed by a broad range of religious and educational organizations. In January 2000, three of these guides were distributed by the U.S. Department of Education to every public school in the nation. (See also A Parent's Guide to Religion in the Public Schools, A Teacher's Guide to Religion in the Public Schools and Public Schools & Religious Communities.)

Haynes is the author or co-author of six books, including First Freedoms: A Documentary History of First Amendment Rights in America (2006) and Religion in American Public Life. His column, Inside the First Amendment, appears in newspapers nationwide.

He is a founding board member of the Character Education Partnership and serves on the steering committee of the Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools and the American Bar Association Advisory Commission on Public Education. He chairs the Committee on Religious Liberty of the National Council of Churches.

Widely quoted in news magazines and major newspapers, Haynes is also a frequent guest on television and radio. He has been profiled in The Wall Street Journal and on ABC’s "Evening News." In 2008 he received the Virginia First Freedom Award from the Council for America’s First Freedom.

Haynes holds a master’s degree from Harvard Divinity School and a doctorate from Emory University.

Posts by Charles C. Haynes:

Inside the First Amendment, Religion Commentary | Charles C. Haynes | May 18, 2012

In Va. high school, will Ten Commandments stay or go?

If Giles County school officials had heeded the First Amendment in the first place, they could have focused on finding a constitutional place for the Ten Commandments in schools.

Religion Commentary | Charles C. Haynes | May 7, 2012

In Missouri, perils and politics of ‘don’t say gay’

Some social-conservative lawmakers in several states worry about what they see as a ‘homosexual agenda’ being promoted in public schools.

Inside the First Amendment, Religion Commentary | Charles C. Haynes | April 20, 2012

Tennessee’s science law: academic freedom or monkey business?

New law has nothing to do with academic freedom, everything to do with undermining the teaching of evolution with trumped-up ‘controversies’ and unscientific ‘weaknesses.’

Inside the First Amendment, Religion Commentary | Charles C. Haynes | April 6, 2012

State lawmakers reignite school wars over religion

Barred from returning to state-sponsored prayers and devotional Bible reading, legislatures find new ways to get more religion through the schoolhouse door.

Inside the First Amendment, Religion Commentary | Charles C. Haynes | March 23, 2012

Character, freedom and the legacy of Sandy McDonnell

Late McDonnell Douglas Corp. chief will be well-remembered for his dedication to character education in our schools.

Religion Commentary | Charles C. Haynes | March 12, 2012

Author expounds on Roger Williams, liberty of conscience

Award-winning writer John M. Barry traces intellectual roots of troublemaking 17th century minister’s convictions on church-state separation.

Inside the First Amendment, Religion Commentary | Charles C. Haynes | March 9, 2012

Why claims of conscience matter

Finding ways to accommodate religious conscience is a balancing act between competing interests, and not always possible; but if it is, it should not be an afterthought.

Religion Commentary | Charles C. Haynes | March 2, 2012

Fla. ‘school prayer’ bill seems redundant

Legislation sent to Gov. Rick Scott appears aimed at urging public schools to do what current law already allows at school-sponsored events under an 11th Circuit ruling.

Religion Commentary | Charles C. Haynes | February 29, 2012

What JFK really said about separating church from state

What made Rick Santorum ‘want to throw up’ also paved the way for Santorum, a Catholic, to run for president without nearly the religious opposition President Kennedy faced.

Inside the First Amendment, Religion Commentary | Charles C. Haynes | February 24, 2012

In New York City, does church-school separation go too far?

It’s hard to see how permitting religious groups to use public schools for worship services when students aren’t around violates church-state separation.

Inside the First Amendment, Religion Commentary | Charles C. Haynes | February 10, 2012

To bridge religious divide, let students engage students

Face to Faith program showing some success in promoting tolerance among young people of different faiths, often in regions of severe sectarian strife.

Inside the First Amendment, Religion Commentary | Charles C. Haynes | January 27, 2012

In R.I., a student’s lesson in religious freedom

You might think it would be easy to stand up for religious freedom in the state where religious freedom was born — but apparently it isn’t.

Inside the First Amendment, Religion Commentary | Charles C. Haynes | January 13, 2012

Pagans, atheists, Christians and the battle for equal treatment

‘Equal treatment’ is a siren song few faith communities can resist, but applying it is often messy for government at best — and dangerous for religion at worst.

Religion Commentary | Charles C. Haynes | January 12, 2012

Court affirms religious groups’ right to say who’s a minister

Justices unanimously answer the big question: There is a ‘ministerial exception’ rooted in the First Amendment — and reject ‘extreme’ anti-discrimination position.

Inside the First Amendment, Religion Commentary | Charles C. Haynes | December 29, 2011

Religion story of the year: anti-Muslim bigotry in America

Lowe’s Home Improvement’s cave-in to anti-Muslim prejudice may prove to be exactly what was needed to wake Americans up to the very real dangers of Islamophobia in our country.

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About The First Amendment Center

We support the First Amendment and build understanding of its core freedoms through education, information and entertainment.

The center serves as a forum for the study and exploration of free-expression issues, including freedom of speech, of the press and of religion, and the rights to assemble and to petition the government.

Founded by John Seigenthaler, the First Amendment Center is an operating program of the Freedom Forum and is associated with the Newseum and the Diversity Institute. The center has offices in the John Seigenthaler Center at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., and at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.

The center’s programs, including the Religious Freedom Education Project at the Newseum, provide education and information to the public and groups including First Amendment scholars and experts, educators, government policy makers, legal experts and students. The center is nonpartisan and does not lobby, litigate or provide legal advice. See First Amendment Center Fact Sheet and FAQs. See internships info.

The center’s website, www.firstamendmentcenter.org, is one of the most authoritative sources of news, information and commentary in the nation on First Amendment issues. It features daily updates on news about First Amendment-related developments, as well as detailed reports about U.S. Supreme Court cases involving the First Amendment, and commentary, analysis and special reports on free expression, press freedom and religious-liberty issues. Support the work of the First Amendment Center.

1 For All

1 for All is a national nonpartisan program designed to build understanding and support for First Amendment freedoms. 1 for All provides teaching materials to the nation’s schools, supports educational events on America’s campuses and reminds the public that the First Amendment serves everyone, regardless of faith, race, gender or political leanings. It is truly one amendment for all. Visit 1 for All at http://1forall.us/

Help tomorrow’s citizens find their voice: Teach the First Amendment

The most basic liberties guaranteed to Americans – embodied in the 45 words of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution – assure Americans a government that is responsible to its citizens and responsive to their wishes.

These 45 words are as alive and important today as they were more than 200 years ago. These liberties are neither liberal nor conservative, Democratic nor Republican – they are the basis for our representative democratic form of government.

We know from studies beginning in 1997 by the nonpartisan First Amendment Center, and from studies commissioned by the Knight Foundation and others, that few adult Americans or high school students can name the individual five freedoms that make up the First Amendment.

The lesson plans – drawn from materials prepared by the Newseum and the First Amendment Center – will draw young people into an exploration of how their freedoms began and how they operate in today’s world. Students will discuss just how far individual rights extend, examining rights in the school environment and public places. The lessons may be used in history and government, civics, language arts and journalism, art and debate classes. They may be used in sections or in their entirety. Many of these lesson plans indicate an overall goal, offer suggestions on how to teach the lesson and list additional resources and enrichment activities.

See more about lesson plans.

First Amendment Moot Court Competition

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution – the cornerstone of American democracy – is the focus of the National First Amendment Moot Court Competition. Recognized as one of the nation's finest constitutional-law competitions, this annual event features a current First Amendment controversy.

During the two-day competition in February, each team will participate in a minimum of four rounds, arguing a hypothetical based on a current First Amendment controversy before panels of accomplished jurists, legal scholars and attorneys.

Past participants in the National First Amendment Moot Court Competition have represented law schools nationwide, from Brooklyn Law School to Duke University to Arizona State to Harvard.

The 22nd Annual National First Amendment Moot Court Competition is Feb. 16-17, 2012. See registration information and details about the competition.

FIRST AMENDMENT CENTER ARCHIVES

State of the First Amendment survey reports

The State of the First Amendment surveys, commissioned since 1997 by the First Amendment Center and Newseum, are a regular check on how Americans view their first freedoms of speech, press, assembly, religion and petition.

The periodic surveys examine public attitudes toward freedom of speech, press, religion and the rights of assembly and petition; and sample public opinion on contemporary issues involving those freedoms. See the reports.