Examining ‘Separation of Church and State’ Issues in Public Education
Study Questions Are the following statements (A) CORRECT or (B) INCORRECT about the First Amendment Establishment Clause: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof …”? 1. Under the “establishment” clause of the First Amendment, and in line with U.S. Supreme Court rulings, public school educators should lead students in prayer during the school day. 2. As agents of the state, public school teachers may not require prayer or other religious practices from students, even if students do not object to taking part in the devotional activities. 3. The first religion clause says government and its agencies cannot set up religious beliefs in students. 4. Local, state, and federal governments cannot set up a national religion. 5. The Establishment Clause prohibits the government from favoring one religion over another. 6. School administrators cannot broadcast prayers over a school public-address system. 7. Under the “free exercise” clause of the First Amendment, public schools may not prevent students from expressing or sharing religious beliefs privately or in lessons related to academic religious studies. 8. Public school students may express their religious beliefs if they do not disrupt the school environment. 9. The second part of the Establishment clause says that the government and its agencies may not forbid or interfere with individuals’ practice of religion. 10. Students may not bring religious texts to school to read and discuss them. Study Questions Reference: “Teaching about the Bible in Public School: How to do it Right” by Mark A. Chancey (https://www.au.org/the-latest/church-and-state/articles/teaching-about-the-bible-in-publicschools/ ) Directions: Based on this article, are the following statements (A) TRUE or (B) FALSE? 11. Teaching about the Hebrew Bible is illegal on public school campuses. 12. Studies about the Hebrew Bible are permissible on public school grounds only if other religions are in the curriculum also. 13. Mark Chance, professor of religious studies at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, studied the teaching practices of teachers of Bible Literacy courses in public schools. 14. According to Chancey, successful Bible literacy courses in public school curricula rely primarily on resources by a variety of biblical scholarship. 15. Successful Bible literacy classes in public education show sensitivity toward issues resulting from religious diversity.
Academic Initiatives for Biblical Literacy in Secondary Education
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