Past U.S. Supreme Court rulings have held that schools and school employees must be careful to engage in religious activities while at school that could appear to endorse a particular religion above others or coerce students to engage in religious activities. However, the June 2022 Kennedy v. Bremerton School District opinion suggests that the…

In "Carson v. Makin," the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that, if a state offers tuition assistance for students to attend private schools, then requiring that those private schools be nonsectarian violates the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment. Robert Kim discusses how this case aligns with other decisions related to the free…

When it comes to creationism, it might seem as if the United States is trapped in a century-long culture-war rut. In a sense, the Scopes Trial of 1925 put science itself on trial, and it can seem as if every new dispute over teaching evolution is only a repetition of that famous trial. In truth, however, the power of creationism has ebbed…

Conventional wisdom suggests that evangelical Christians, often among the most vocal advocates of school choice efforts in the U.S., are promoting choice out of a sense of frustration with public schools and perceived bias against religion. Research by Marilyn Anderson Rhames, however, suggests that evangelicals are no more concerned about…

If schools are to prepare students to participate more productively in civic life, schools will need to ensure that they have opportunities to practice the skills of civic reasoning, argues Carol Lee. Yet schools are challenged by the limits in the curriculum and the difficulty of addressing the different types of prior knowledge that students…

Schools have become ground zero for clashes over transgender rights, and critics are denouncing academic institutions--and more recently, the Obama administration--for supporting transgender students in their right to use restrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity. This article responds to the seven most common claims made by…

Teacher education should provide opportunities for preservice teachers to think about the intersection of their faith and their practice. Students with a high degree of theological certainty may shut down those conversations and therefore deny themselves and their classmates opportunities to wrestle with questions related to their religious…

A little over a decade ago, Modesto Calif. Public schools Superintendent James Enochs undertook what became a groundbreaking initiative that resulted in the creation of the nation's only required course in world religions. He did so by convening the city's clergy and community leaders and leading school administrators to fashion a course organized…

This paper examines the roles that faith and vocation play in teaching. Faith can lead to a sense of calling that impacts the identity and integrity of the teacher, which, in turn, influences the holistic development of students. Therefore, teachers of faith who respect the limits of religious belief in public schools are essential contributors to…

Contrary to culture-war rhetoric from the Right, there is more student religious expression and more study about religion in public schools today than at any time in the last 100 years. And contrary to dire warnings from the Left, much of the religion that goes to school these days arrives through the First Amendment door. Of course, this isn't to…

Even though public schools maintain a separation between church and state, non-Christians face social and logistical challenges that threaten their development and academic performance. The challenges may be inadvertent or intentional, observable or discreet, or introduced by students, educators, school policies, or broader society. Educators have…

The Tony Blair Faith Foundation has created a program that enables students to learn directly with, from, and about one another's culture, religion and beliefs. Face to Faith is a state-of-the-art educational program that addresses cross-cultural and inter-religious understanding in the context of study about global issues. The program uses…

Engaging students with literature, including religious literature, provides a way to broaden their world view. In this article, the author shares how she uses literature to teach her Christian students about other religions. Because she teaches at an independent school, she has the luxury of teaching works that might not be allowed in public or…

Provides a fictionalized version of a possible discussion by the justices of the United States Supreme Court prior to their 1986 ruling on a school board member's appeal of a district court opinion permitting a student club to meet on school premises for Bible readings and prayer meetings. (MD)

Argues against concept of one best way for educating American public school students based on the ideological or pedagogical beliefs of any single individual or group. Calls for local school districts to exercise multiple concepts of education focused on giving all students an equal opportunity to achieve the American Dream. (Contains 16…