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: What does it mean to “establish” a religion? You are not allowed, for example, to have an altar call, baptize students, or lay hands on a student and pray out loud in Jesus’ name. You may not try to convert a student to your religious views or teach that your beliefs are the only correct ones. These are distinct religious practices and are considered “establishing a religion.” Students’ Rights
At the same time, you are not allowed to inhibit the expression of religion either. 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.