Although I can’t cite a scientific survey to prove it, I have detected a recent upswing in conflicts over religion in public schools. Just as I was beginning to believe that most schools were finally getting religion right, it appears that the trend is in the other direction. Two examples from the past school year – one from each end of the spectrum – will suffice to illustrate the wider problem. Last spring, a Colorado school district was sued by a teacher for multiple, egregious violations of the Establishment clause of the First Amendment – including school-sponsored prayers at school events, distribution of religious literature by district employees, and religious activities endorsed by the school. Two weeks ago, the district settled the case by agreeing to end unconstitutional promotion of religion by school officials. Meanwhile in Nevada, a public charter school barely avoided an expensive lawsuit by apologizing for telling a sixth-grade student that she could not use a Bible verse in her “All About Me” project – an assignment that was supposed to include “an inspirational saying.” School officials agreed to allow the student to re-submit her project – this time with the Bible verse included. What’s striking […]

By : Markus McDowell