Title: When Are Faith and Religion Allowed in Public Schools? | Teach 4 the Heart
Headings: When Are Faith and Religion Allowed in Public Schools?
When Are Faith and Religion Allowed in Public Schools?
What Does the Constitution Say?
What does it mean to “establish” a religion?
Students’ Rights
How to Legally Share Your Faith in the Public School
Resources for Further Study

Content: It is a violation of the First Amendment for a teacher to stop a student from expressing religion – to keep students from carrying Bibles, talking about what they believe, or writing a report on Jesus as a historical figure. How to Legally Share Your Faith in the Public School
Live out your faith in your daily life. You are absolutely permitted to live out the tenants of faith in your daily interactions. For example, to follow Jesus’ command to “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (Eph 4:29) is not only permitted but is a wonderful testimony. So love your students, be patient with them, and treat them with the utmost respect as those who are created in the image of God. Live your life by Biblical principles such as the Golden Rule, and people will notice the difference – maybe even ask you about it. And then…
Openly answer questions posed to you about what you believe. The courts have made clear that the First Amendment guarantees freedom of speech and that if you as public school teacher are asked about something related to your faith, you may honestly answer the question. What you may not do is to then follow it up with “and you must believe that too.” Trying to convert a student would be considered establishing a religion.