Posts Tagged ‘religion in public school’
Some object to distribution of Bibles at school
Some parents are objecting to Bibles being distributed at a Chattanooga elementary school.
Judge rules for cheerleaders in Bible banner suit
A judge ruled Wednesday that cheerleaders at a Southeast Texas high school can display banners emblazoned with Bible verses at football games.
Atheist group sues Rankin schools over prayer meet
A Mississippi high school forced students to attend on-campus programs where fellow students urged them to turn to Jesus for hope and eternal life, according to an atheist group that has sued.
Ohio school: Jesus portrait has been taken down
A Jesus portrait that has hung in a southern Ohio school district since 1947 was taken down Wednesday, because of concerns about the potential costs of a federal lawsuit against its display.
Why fifth graders have rights too
To what extent do students have First Amendment rights? Recently, a three judge panel of the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals has written another chapter in that debate by ruling in favor of a fifth grader who was barred by school officials from handing out invitations to a Christmas party at her church.
Okla. House OKs bill on religion in schools
Oklahoma public school students who express their religious views couldn’t be discriminated against under a bill passed by the House on Thursday, despite concerns from opponents that such protections already exist.
Miss. gov signs bill for student-led school prayer
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant signed a bill Thursday that could lead to student-led prayer over school intercoms or at graduations or sporting events. The American Civil Liberties Union said the measure, which becomes law July 1, is likely to prompt a lawsuit in the school year that begins in August.
Miss. House sends school prayer bill to Bryant
The House has sent a bill to Gov. Phil Bryant that could legalize student prayer before school audiences.
‘America is religious, but also illiterate of religion’
Salt Lake City’s Deseret News looks into why Modesto, Calif., is the only school district in the U.S. requiring students to take a world religions course.
Bible club sues Calif. school district over fee
Good News Club says Buena Park School District’s refusal to allow it to use classroom space after-hours at no cost violates its constitutional rights.
When faith and football don’t mix
Pre-game prayers have been at the heart of a flurry of recent incidents; a safer course for public schools would be to call for a moment of silence.
Ind. school district ends youth minister’s lunch visits
‘No other persons who are not associated with the school are allowed to stand in the lunchroom like this,’ parents’ complaint states, alleging ‘an endorsement of religion.’
God goes back to public school
As classes get under way, students across America will form religious clubs, pray together in their free time, and in many other ways belie the myth of the ‘godless public schools.’
8th Circuit backs Minn. Good News Club
Three-judge panel overturns lower court’s denial of preliminary injunction allowing religious club to participate in after-school program, Education Week reports.
The First Amendment Center is an educational organization and cannot provide legal advice.
Ken Paulson is president and chief executive officer of the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University and in Washington, D.C. Previously, Paulson served as the editor and senior vice president/news of USA Today.
Gene Policinski, senior vice president and executive director of the First Amendment Center and president and chief operating officer of the Diversity Institute, is a veteran journalist whose career has included work in newspapers, radio, television and online.
John Seigenthaler founded the First Amendment Center in 1991 with the mission of creating national discussion, dialogue and debate about First Amendment rights and values.
Dr. Charles C. Haynes is director of the Religious Freedom Education Project at the Newseum. He writes and speaks extensively on religious liberty and religion in American public life.
David L. Hudson Jr. is an expert in First Amendment issues who writes for firstamendmentcenter.org and for other publications. Hudson teaches law and was a scholar at the First Amendment Center.
Tiffany Villager is director/First Amendment studies at the First Amendment Center, which she joined in 1993. She also served as the center’s research manager and research coordinator, and developed the center’s library.
Speech Commentary | Ken Paulson
Poetry and emotion: when a 6-year-old is censored
North Carolina elementary school that told girl to remove reference to God before reading her poem to students was technically defensible, but it probably would have been better to let her read it as written.