Written by Don ByrdHow should public school officials protect the religious expression rights of young students while avoiding the appearance of endorsing those religious views and protecting other students from unwelcome proselytizing? Principals, teachers and school boards deal every year with such balancing obligations. When the solution includes refusing to allow the expression, students and their parents are understandably upset and often seek to enforce their rights through the court system. For reasons that escape me, apparently no form of expression causes more contention than candy canes with religious messages attached.
Written by Don ByrdCharisma News reports that plaintiff parents of students in the California’s Encinitas School District are appealing a judge’s ruling earlier this year that a yoga program does not violate the separation of church and state. The parents charge the program unlawfully forces an inherently religious activity into the public school curriculum.
Written by Don ByrdIn Highland Park, Illinois, school officials were troubled earlier today when a student showed up dressed as Jesus. After all, the guidelines warned students against costumes that may offend the religious sensibilities of others. But after looking into it, they decided no harm, no foul.
Written by Don ByrdIn the church-state world, cold weather means holiday disputes can’t be far behind. Earlier this month, I posted about a school district in Wisconsin that barred the use of sacred music in school concerts, a decision that was later rescinded pending further planning to develop the policy.
Religion News Service reports today on a similar development in a New Jersey school district, where church-state concerns have led to a decision to prohibit religious music at elementary school holiday concerts.
