Discusses an Alabama silent prayer law struck down by the Supreme Court. Also discusses two Iowa court cases, one involving prayer at graduation ceremonies, the other involving distribution of Bibles in state schools. (MD)

Examines case law on the subject of Bible instruction in the public schools, offers a detailed analysis and critique of the National Council on Bible Curriculum in Public Schools curriculum, and provides suggestions for public schools contemplating adding a course on the Bible to their curricula. (Contains 89 references.) (Author/PKP)

In "Crockett v. Sorenson" a voluntary public school Bible class was found unconstitutional because of sectarian control of the program, and guidelines for a constitutional Bible course were suggested. "May v. Cooperman" ruled against the constitutionality of the moment of silence, a question not yet addressed by the Supreme…

Discusses Louisiana case wherein a federal district court judge ruled that an elementary principal violated the Establishment Clause by distributing Bibles to students. Includes Supreme Court's three-part "Lemon" test to determine if government practice violates the Establishment Clause. (PKP)

Rather than allowing the unconstitutional Bible study program to remain in the schools in a modified form, the Court should have opted for a released-time arrangement. Available from Tennessee Law Review Association, Inc., 1505 W. Cumberland Ave., Knoxville, TN 37916. (Author/IRT)

Ponders a case involving a first grader's right to read a story about Jacob to his class. A U.S. District Court upheld the teacher's decision to allow the boy to read the story only to her. Teachers can explain to youngsters that reading a Bible story aloud does not constitute endorsement of particular religious beliefs. (MLH)

The purpose of the research was to provide practitioners in the public schools with an empirical basis for their efforts to find the proper place of religious ritual and instruction in the school setting. This paper analyzes two Supreme Court decisions regarding prayer and Bible reading in the public schools: (1) "Engel v. Vitale"; and…

The matter covered by this manuscript has grown out of controversies, yet it is not in itself controversial. At times there are arrayed on one side of this controversy, those who sincerely believe that a reading or teaching of the Bible in the public schools will make for better citizenship; and on the other side are to be found those who believe…

Chapter 12 in a book on school law focuses on religious activities within the schools. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that bible reading and prayer recitations are not permissible. However, objective study of religion as history or literature or the study of comparative religions would be acceptable. The Court has given approval for excusal from…

This book is designed to give readers a basic grasp of the general legal principles controlling the role of religion in public education, to apply those principles to typical church-state issues in the schools, and to equip readers to address other related issues as they arise. The book covers the following topics: (1) general legal principles;…

Recent trends and developments regarding the practice of religion in public schools are discussed in this report. Topics included are prayer, display of religious symbols and materials, holiday observances, weekend activities, distribution and study of scriptural literature, "parochiaid," and religious discrimination. The author…