Religion thrives inside our public schools
When horrific gun violence strikes public schools, it’s inevitable that some Facebook meme or, worse, an opportunistic legislator, will pin the blame on the notion that “God has been removed from our public schools.” But if such a belief were to be translated into a supposed solution to this violence, it would be unconstitutional.
Moreover, the reality is that religion is not only permissible in public schools, it is routinely practiced. The old bumper-sticker adage is accurate: “As long as there are tests in schools, there will be prayer in schools.” But even if tests were to disappear, there would still be prayer.
The U. S. Constitution guarantees our freedom to exercise our religion. Public- school students can pray before tests, book reports, band concerts or football games, either alone or with other students. They can pray silently or aloud, as long as they’re not interfering with instruction. They can carry the Bible, Quran, Book of Mormon or other religious writings and read them during free time. Students also can exercise their faith by wearing outward symbols. They can wear crosses, stars of David, rosary beads, hijabs, yarmulkes and other expressions of their beliefs or practices, including religionthemed T- shirts.
In many schools, students — at their own initiative — gather before or after classes to study sacred texts or discuss religious topics; and students — individually or collectively — can discuss God or their religious values at lunch, on the playground, or while talking casually with friends. Students, in some communities, begin each day on campus with prayer around the U.S. flagpole, as an exercise of their religious freedom.
The free exercise of religion is at the heart of the First Amendment and one of the fundamental rights that the American Civil Liberties Union regularly defends. Since its founding in 1920, the ACLU has gone to court to vigorously defend the rights of students and others, in public schools and other public settings, to practice their faith without harassment. In recent years, more than half of these cases were brought on behalf of selfidentified Christians. This is one reason why the ACLU is supported by people of such diverse faiths.
While our Constitution protects the free exercise of religion by individuals, at the same time it forbids the establishment of religion by our government. This means that public-school teachers, coaches, principals and administrators, while free to have their own religious views, may not organize prayer or otherwise impose their religious views on students. Public-school leaders may not marginalize any student who is of a different religious faith or no religious faith.
Even people who share the same religion have among them a wide range of beliefs on social and moral issues, especially on controversial issues like gun access or gun control. It is unconstitutional for public schools to dictate religious norms, for such standards are within the domain of families and faith communities, to establish in keeping with their own traditions, teachings and doctrines.
Congregations have the right to speak freely and persuade others to their viewpoints. They may host classes, offer instruction and organize services. They may distribute literature on public sidewalks or at public venues. They may even operate their own schools. In order to safeguard their constitutional rights to exist and express their faith perspectives, religious groups pay no taxes. One of the reasons the United States is considered among the most religiously observant countries in the world is because our freedom of religion allows for religious exercise to flourish.
Religion is not only permissible in public schools, it is routinely practiced.