A letter from Rod Paige, United States Secretary of Education, introduces a booklet which provides guidance to state educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), and the public on constitutionally protected prayer in U.S. public elementary and secondary schools. The guidance also sets forth and explains the responsibilities of…

In Britain, every publicly funded school is obliged by the law to provide religious education and daily collective worship, of a broadly Christian character, for all its pupils. Examines the statutory provisions dealing with daily collective worship and religious education in British schools. (66 footnotes) (MLF)

The Knox and Bown decisions, involving school personnel's defiance of school prayer/moment-of-silence directives, strongly suggest that principals and their faculty members avoid taking the law into their own hands. Although an up-to-date knowledge of school law is prudent, job security requires educators to follow the advice of those legally…

Controversial Supreme Court decisions have barred organized school prayer, but neither the Court nor public policy exclude religion from schools altogether. In this book, one of America's leading constitutional scholars asks what role religion ought to play in public schools. Kent Greenawalt explores many of the most divisive issues in educational…

In a 6-3 decision expanding on its 1992 graduation prayer ruling in "Lee v. Weisman," the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Santa Fe (Texas) Independent School District's pregame prayer policy. Justice Stevens pointed to significant school involvement in such student-led prayers and their coercive effects. (MLH)

Increased school violence has heightened advocacy of school prayer. However, an ecumenical, one-size-fits-all approach depersonalizes prayer and ignores its spiritual character and diverse forms of expression. More important are the reintroduction of religious dimensions of culture into the curriculum and an accurate understanding of church-state…

In this article, the author reports that under the No Child Left Behind Act, schools must submit a written statement to the state department of education by October 1 each year saying that they won't prevent students from saying constitutionally allowed prayers. The author also reports on rampant student absences faced by some district schools…

Throughout most facets of American life, there has been a renewed interest in and expression of spirituality. Religiosity and spirituality have been at the center of recent international events (e.g., September 11th) and political discussions (e.g., continuing debates about school prayer and the role of religion in the political process). As a…

Public school leaders often find themselves caught between groups with passionately held--but widely varying--views regarding the appropriate role for religion in public schools. Tensions are heightened by the growth of well-funded special interest groups inclined to litigate anywhere a test case arises. By reviewing the most recent judicial…

Because of the lack of a definitive United States Supreme Court decision on prayers at graduation, school officials are left without clear direction. Analyzes two decisions that illustrate the differences in judicial opinion on the legality of prayers at graduation ceremonies. (MLF)

The U.S. Supreme Court, the Congress, state legislatures, and city councils can ask for divine guidance, but public schools are denied this advantage. The First Amendment was designed to protect religious minorities from oppression by a religious majority, not to protect people from religion. Tapping into a higher power would civilize, not…

Jerry Cammarata's poignant article provides a valuable opportunity to discuss the Supreme Court's wisdom in prohibiting nondenominational prayer in public schools in 1962 ("Engel v. Vitale") and to review current case law. The Constitution permits prayer chosen and spoken privately by a student, supported by family, friends, and clergy.…

In a June 2000 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a southern Texas district's policy authorizing student-led and student-initiated prayer at football games violates the Establishment Clause. The Court viewed this policy as having a sham secular purpose and a primary effect of endorsing religion. (MLH)

The Ninth Circuit Court's decision upholding the Madison School District's policy allowing students to speak (and pray) at graduation ceremonies is correct. So long as students are selected by religiously neutral criteria (class rank) and can speak on any topic, the Free Speech Clause should protect that student's expression. (MLH)

Suggests that the Supreme Court's Santa Fe v. Doe decision (involving voluntary, student-led prayer at high school football games) was erroneous. Concludes that the Supreme Court's jurisprudence in this area has effectively expunged religion from the public square, particularly public schools, by writing into the Constitution a strict wall between…