When the authors of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution wrote, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” they sparked a debate that continues today. Are your students curious about how the separation of church and state applies to them, their schools and the sports team on which they play?
Encourage students to learn more about religious tolerance and liberty by exploring these resources:
Engel v. Vitale
Summary
of the 1962 case in which the parents of 10 pupils in New York schools
challenged the constitutionality of a New York state law requiring public
schools to begin each day with a state-authorized prayer drafted by the State
Board of Regents.
http://www.firstamendmentschools.org/freedoms/case.aspx?id=465
Santa
Fe Independent School District
v. Doe
Summary
of the 2000 case in which two families filed suit against a Texas school
district for allowing student-led, student-initiated prayer over loudspeakers
at football games.
http://www.firstamendmentschools.org/freedoms/case.aspx?id=489
A
Teacher’s Guide to Religion in the Public Schools
A
series of questions and answers to help teachers easily and effectively
integrate the study of religion into their classrooms.
http://www.freedomforum.org/publications/first/teachersguide/teachersguide.pdf
Finding Common Ground: A Guide to Religious
Liberty in Public Schools
A guide to religion, public education and the First Amendment published
by the First Amendment Center.
http://www.freedomforum.org/publications/first/findingcommonground/FCG-complete.pdf
Religion and Schools
Website
from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on the issue of prayer in
schools.
http://www.aclu.org/religion-belief/religion-and-schools
Religious Liberty: Frequently Asked
Questions
From
the First Amendment Center, a collection of frequently asked questions about freedom
of religion.
http://www.firstamendmentschools.org/freedoms/religiouslibertyfaqs.aspx
Religious Liberty: Key Supreme Court
Cases
From
the First Amendment Center, a collection of key Supreme Court cases related to
religion and public schools.
http://www.firstamendmentschools.org/freedoms/religiouslibertycases.aspx
