Title: Religion in Public Schools | Lawyers.com
Headings: Religion in Public Schools
Religion in Public Schools
Prayer in School: Personal vs. School-Sponsored
Prayers and Religious Expression by Student Speakers at School Events
School Celebrations of Religious Holidays
Religion in the Classroom and in Homework
No Discrimination Against Religious Literature or Clubs
Speaking With a Lawyer

Content: A display that includes symbols from several different religions may be seen as having the secular purpose of promoting tolerance and respect for all religions. As for holiday programs, the rule is similar. In general, holiday assemblies may include religious music, literature, or art—as long as it has an educational purpose, such as furthering students’ knowledge and appreciation of diverse religious heritages. This standard can get tricky. Depending on the context, courts may find that presentations like “living nativity scenes” are endorsements of Christianity, even when they’re a part of a larger program that isn’t explicitly religious. Religion in the Classroom and in Homework
Public school teachers can include lessons and discussions about different religions, as long as they’re careful not to promote one religion over another. If students include expressions of faith in their class assignments, teachers should use regular academic standards to grade that work. But they may stop students from making religious remarks in class that aren’t relevant to the academic subject. No Discrimination Against Religious Literature or Clubs
School officials generally may tell students when, where, and how they can pass out religious literature at school, as long as the rules are reasonable and apply to all literature that isn’t related to school. But they can’t single out religious materials for restrictions.