Religion in Schools
Texas is one of the only states that permits a Moment of Silence. Other states restrict such an institution in schools, as religion in schools is often provokes controversies. Many incidents of religious overtones and connections in schools have been challenged, including simple things such as a moment of silence, Christmas displays, and sayings such as “God Bless America”. Religious expression in schools is an important demonstration of one’s beliefs falls within legal bounds within the Constitution, and laws including the Lemon Test.
It is a continually argued topic on whether implementing religion is within bounds of the Constitution. Many parents of a students, even teachers go head to head over this issue. A school …show more content…
It is usually the concern if everyone is being included. Usually in the process of trying to do so somebody is left out. As in the case of a school in Louisville Kentucky. One of the teachers had a display outside her window that a Christmas tree made out of paper cut-outs of her students hands with the title “Santa’s Helpers”(Flack page 1). Another teacher, of the Jewish religion, said it needed to reflect something “a little more inclusive” (Flack page 1). The display and the conflict between the teachers was continually juggled. The Principle after making the Christmas tree come down came to the conclusion that “If we don’t include Christians, we are not truly being multi-cultural.”(Flack page 1) When nations and other institutions try to accommodate everyone they usually inhibit some other group of people. Not everyone can be satisfied. A problem will always come up with religion and institutions. A court case that decided when a religious affiliation can be applied to schools. This is certain case came up with the “Lemon Test” (Cevallos page 2). This test is a part of the “Establishment Clause” which forbids both the advancement and the inhibition of a religion. In 1971 in a court case “Lemon v Kurtzman” a three step assessment determining the constitutionality of statute involving religion was created. This law states that the actions taken by the government has to have a secular purpose, the action cannot have a consequence of advancing or inhibiting a religion, and lastly the government cannot “excessively entangle” itself with the concept of religion itself. In case involving whether the school was able to sing “Silent Night” at a school choir concert, according to the rules of the “Lemon Test” the school is in legal bounds to do so (Cevallos page 2). These laws not only protect people’s rights by not allowing to overtake and influence of a religion, but also by not inhibiting any religious
Texas is one of the only states that permits a Moment of Silence. Other states restrict such an institution in schools, as religion in schools is often provokes controversies. Many incidents of religious overtones and connections in schools have been challenged, including simple things such as a moment of silence, Christmas displays, and sayings such as “God Bless America”. Religious expression in schools is an important demonstration of one’s beliefs falls within legal bounds within the Constitution, and laws including the Lemon Test.
It is a continually argued topic on whether implementing religion is within bounds of the Constitution. Many parents of a students, even teachers go head to head over this issue. A school …show more content…
It is usually the concern if everyone is being included. Usually in the process of trying to do so somebody is left out. As in the case of a school in Louisville Kentucky. One of the teachers had a display outside her window that a Christmas tree made out of paper cut-outs of her students hands with the title “Santa’s Helpers”(Flack page 1). Another teacher, of the Jewish religion, said it needed to reflect something “a little more inclusive” (Flack page 1). The display and the conflict between the teachers was continually juggled. The Principle after making the Christmas tree come down came to the conclusion that “If we don’t include Christians, we are not truly being multi-cultural.”(Flack page 1) When nations and other institutions try to accommodate everyone they usually inhibit some other group of people. Not everyone can be satisfied. A problem will always come up with religion and institutions. A court case that decided when a religious affiliation can be applied to schools. This is certain case came up with the “Lemon Test” (Cevallos page 2). This test is a part of the “Establishment Clause” which forbids both the advancement and the inhibition of a religion. In 1971 in a court case “Lemon v Kurtzman” a three step assessment determining the constitutionality of statute involving religion was created. This law states that the actions taken by the government has to have a secular purpose, the action cannot have a consequence of advancing or inhibiting a religion, and lastly the government cannot “excessively entangle” itself with the concept of religion itself. In case involving whether the school was able to sing “Silent Night” at a school choir concert, according to the rules of the “Lemon Test” the school is in legal bounds to do so (Cevallos page 2). These laws not only protect people’s rights by not allowing to overtake and influence of a religion, but also by not inhibiting any religious