Written by Don Byrd
The Baptist Joint Committee’s general Counsel, K. Hollyn Hollman recently participated in a panel discussion in Texas regarding religion in public schools. In the newest issue of Report From the Capital, she reflects on school-related controversies, including the dispute over religious signs held by cheerleaders on the field at the opening of football games in a Texas town. Solving problems like these, she argues, calls for community-wide education and communication about the nature of the religion clauses. Absent that, a controversy quickly expands.
In some cases, well-meaning Christians simply do not understand how the Establishment Clause works to protect religious freedom. Unfortunately, many times battle lines are drawn quickly and harshly, with those who want to share their faith claiming to be victims of hostility, even in communities where their beliefs dominate.
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Despite wide agreement that public schools have a responsibility to avoid government sponsorship of religion and protect the religious liberty of their students, it seems difficult for some communities to avoid using the machinery of the public schools to promote religion. There are better alternatives.
