Written by Don ByrdYesterday marked the 50th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Abington v. Schempp, in which the practice of required Bible readings to begin the public school day was ruled unconstitutional. Then-16-year-old Ellery Schempp staged a protest of the requirement and refused to back down to school officials, ultimately filing suit over the dispute. Schempp and his family received threats but stayed with the case, ultimately a win for the religious liberty of all of us.
Written by Don ByrdGovernor Rick Perry (R-TX) signed into law last week a bill that protects students, teachers and school officials who use “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Hannakuh” greetings. While the law is designed to relieve school officials of anxiety over church-state litigation, are there examples of actual lawsuits filed over the mere use of those phrases in school? Problems arise not when students say “Merry Christmas,” but when public schools are used to celebrate a particular religious holiday and give the impression that the school endorses or is affiliated with the religious view expressed in the celebration. Taking reasonable steps to protect against that danger makes sense. And is probably good manners.
Written by Don ByrdThe Ohio House Education Committee is set to consider legislation that would authorize public schools to allow students release time for religious education off campus. HB 171 specifies students must provide their own transportation, and that no public funds may be used to support the courses. Students would receive school credit for the courses.
Written by Don ByrdThe Louisiana legislature has passed a bill that would complicate the issue of organized student prayer at school. HB 724 requires schools to provide space on request to students who wish to pray before or after the school day, or during the school day’s non-instructional time.
Students are of course already free to pray on their own or in groups in a non-disruptive way during non-instructional time. The space requirement appears to essentially raises any impromptu prayer gathering to the level of a school club in terms of access to meeting space. One other element of the bill causes more concern in my mind…
Written by Don ByrdTexas’ Kountze School District has decided to appeal a state judge’s decision after all in a controversial case involving religious banners created by cheerleaders for high school football games. The news is something of a surprise since the School District claimed to agree with the judge’s decision allowing the banners to continue. But school officials claim they need guidance moving forward.
