Title: Are Bibles Allowed in Public Schools? Can Students Pray in School?
Headings: Are Bibles Allowed in Public Schools? Can Students Pray in School?
Are Bibles Allowed in Public Schools? Can Students Pray in School?
What Rights Do Christian and Other Religious Students Have Per the U.S. Constituion?
Taking Bible and Payer Out of Schools
What Students Can Do
When Teachers Can Require Bible Reading
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Written by FM Editors

Content: Nor may school officials attempt to persuade or compel students to participate in prayer or other religious activities. Such conduct is “attributable to the State” and thus violates the Establishment Clause.” The Education Department adds in its guidelines: “ Although the Constitution forbids public school officials from directing or favoring prayer, students do not ‘shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate…'”
These laws protect not just Christian students, but also Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, and children of all faiths. When Teachers Can Require Bible Reading
So in practicing their right to religious expression, public school students “may pray when not engaged in school activities or instruction…” In addition, students can “read their Bibles or other scriptures, say grace before meals, and pray or study religious materials with fellow students during recess, the lunch hour, or other noninstructional time to the same extent that they may engage in nonreligious activities.” Public school officials, of course, can implement rules that might impact when students are able to pray and/or read their Bible, but they aren’t allowed to “discriminate against student prayer or religious speech in applying such rules and restrictions.” For example, if a student has out his or her Bible during class time set aside for math instruction, the teacher can demand the student put the Bible away. On the other had, if a teacher is instructing students in world religions or literature, he or she certain can make the Bible (or Quran) a required text. Some may view this as walking a fine line, but as long as there is no religious instruction or discrimination/preference involved, public school teachers can make the Bible required reading for such classes. To summarize: