Religious Diversity:
A Strength for America
Debbie Burchfield
Assistant Superintendent
Jenks Public Schools
Jenks Public Schools Mission
Statement:
Jenks Public Schools, inspired by a tradition
of excellence, is committed to the shared
responsibility of preparing all learners for
productive, responsible citizenship in an
ever-changing world.
– In addition to promoting excellence in
academics, the school’s job is to help build our
students’ “civic character”
– To do so, we as educators must be cognizant
not only of our own freedom and rights as
Americans, but of the rights of all—even those
who are different from us
DOES THIS SEEM FAMILIAR?
Congress shall make no law respecting an
establishment of religion, or prohibiting
the free exercise thereof; or abridging the
freedom of speech, or of the press; or the
right of the people peaceably to assemble,
and to petition the government for a
redress of grievances.
First Amendment:
• Yes, it’s the First
•
Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution
We will focus today on
one piece:
“Congress shall make no
law respecting an
establishment of religion,
or prohibiting the free
exercise thereof…”
Challenge for Schools
• Implementation of First Amendment
into the Public Schools as it Pertains
to Religion is a challenge because:
1) There are political and cultural
dimensions
2) Challenge is heightened by
increasingly diverse school population
with polarized philosophical
orientations regarding religion
First Amendment:
• Anyone in America is
•
•
given rights by birth, not
by government
American government
protects rights—doesn’t
take them away
However, a different
standard is set for
educators who must
avoid promoting a
particular religion or nonreligion viewpoint, or
making students feel
“coerced” in any way.
Wearing the First Amendment Hat
• As an educator, we sign
up to wear the First
Amendment Hat to
protect the rights of
others
• It’s our civic duty and
purpose as an educator
to do so.
• The First Amendment
directs us to neither
promote nor inhibit one
religion over another.
Neither should we
promote religion over
non-religion
Implications of First Amendment
• Schools are charged with creating a
balance and remaining neutral in
their approach to religion;
two approaches have failed:
1) Sacred Public School
2) Naked Public School
Two “Failed Models”
1. The Sacred Public School = excessive
2.
prayer/worship with an unfair emphasis on
Christianity
The Naked Public School = eliminating religion
of any kind from every aspect of public school
Civic Public School:
Preferred Model
• Public schools may not encourage nor inhibit
religion
• Public schools are to uphold the First
Amendment when they protect religious liberty
rights of students of all faiths or none.
• Teachers demonstrate fairness when they
ensure that the curriculum includes study about
religion, where appropriate, as an important part
of a complete education.
Why a Religion Policy?
• School Districts need a policy to insure
equity for all students
• Jenks Public Schools Religion Policy was
created by school staff members, parents,
community faith leaders, and attorneys.
• It is based on constitutional and case law
CONSTITUTIONAL v. CASE LAW
• First Amendment—based on Constitutional Law, i.e. law
established by Congress
• Case Law – established by the courts, most notably, the
Supreme Court of the United States.
• Everson V. Board of Education, 1947-example of case law
Jefferson’s term “wall of separation” between church and
state is discussed here. This term is not mentioned in the
First Amendment; but we adhere to it because it is a point
of case law
The Lemon Test
Lemon v. Kurtzman, 1971-example of case law
•
Three part “Lemon Test”:
Does the government (in this case, school) action, have
a bona fide secular or civic purpose? (Example: What
other holidays might fall in December that would give you
an opportunity to teach beyond Christianity?)
• The primary effect neither advances nor inhibits religion.
In other words, is it neutral?
• Does the law avoid excessive governmental entanglement
with religion?
RELIGION POLICY (1.38)
• Jenks Public Schools Religion Policy is
based on the First Amendment
(Constitutional law) and Case Law
• Policy found at www.jenksps.org in JPS
Policies and Procedures Handbook
• Administrative Directive - JPS Staff
Handbooks - provides additional
information pertaining to the policy
JPS RELIGION POLICY
• Meant to be sensitive to individual beliefs and
respectful of established law
• Speaks to the proper role of religion in schools,
i.e. its educational value; not in religious
observance or celebration
• Tells us that we may not aid or prefer one
religion over another OR aid all religions and
show preference for religion over non-religion
Issues Encountered:
• Student Rights
• Curriculum
• School Activities
ISSUES
• STUDENT RIGHTS
Absences for Religious Holidays
- students must not be penalized
Prayer
- individually or in groups
- should not become a distraction to the
educational process
Bible Reading (or other Holy Book)
- individually or in groups
Student Rights
Distribution of Materials
- process determined by school district
Religion Clubs
- Allowed by Federal Equal Access Act
Expression in the Classroom
- cannot be a distraction to the learning
process
Religious Persuasion
- cannot become harassment
Student’s Religious Liberties
• Prayer (as long as it
•
•
•
doesn’t infringe upon the
rights of others or disrupt
the educational process)
Religious Expression (in
written or oral
assignments, artwork,
etc.)
Distribution of Literature
(under a structure such
as JPS Materials
Distribution Policy)
Student Religious Clubs
(student must lead club,
not teacher)
ISSUES
• CURRICULUM
Teaching about Religion/Religious
Holidays:
Teaching must be done objectively and
accurately, fostering knowledge about
religion, not indoctrination. It should be
academic, not devotional or testimonial.
Teaching about Religion
• Maintain Constitutional Neutrality (First Amendment)
• Civic Obligation: (our public schools must reflect how we
as a country want to be represented and provide a wellrounded education that will serve our students well as
they become adults engaging in foreign policy, cultural
appreciation, business, travel, etc.
• Educational Mandate: We must learn about each other in
order to live with each other.
Curriculum
Student Expression in Assignments:
Students may express their religious
beliefs in class oral or written
assignments, class discussions,
homework, artwork, etc.
Excusal from lessons:
Students should be provided alternate
assignments when requested and/or
appropriate
ISSUES
• School Activities
Programs—Music, Drama
-Should serve an educational purpose,
not celebratory
-Be aware of the diversity of religious
beliefs among your students; a variety
of musical or dramatic elements
speaking to that diversity is always
appreciated by your customers!
-Secular music, as opposed to a full
program of sacred music, is acceptable
ISSUES – School Activities
Holiday Parties, Decorations
- Secular in nature, i.e. Santa, reindeer,
elves, Christmas trees are okay (no angel on
the top!) Decorating should begin no more
than two weeks prior to a holiday
- Exchanging Christmas presents is discouraged
for reasons that have nothing to do with
religion!
- Permission must be obtained from principal
prior to having parties
ISSUES – School Activities
• Holiday Themed Lessons, Music in the
classroom:
- Should be secular in nature, unless
the lesson is educational and speaks to
the appropriate standards and objectives
for your curriculum.
ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTIVE
You are encouraged to read the District
Religion Policy (1.38) found in the JPS
Policies and Procedures handbook. And,
the Administrative Directive found in
Teacher Handbooks at each site and on
the JPS website will be useful at it is:
– More specific;
– Gives examples; and
– Fully defines the difference between sacred
and secular
Another great resource
• Charles Haynes: Former
•
•
•
educator; now senior
scholar at First
Amendment Center
Buzz Thomas: Baptist
minister, lawyer, and
former school board
member
These advocates for the
First Amendment present
“Finding Common
Ground” seminars in our
area on a regular basis
For more information log
onto:
www.freedomforum.org
Survival
• America needs diversity to
•
•
survive in an increasingly
global society
We depend on trade and the
differences in various
cultures to support our life
styles
These differences include
race, religion, and cultural
beliefs and practices—We
must accept them if we
intend to remain a viable
stakeholder in the world both
politically and economically
POINTS TO REMEMBER
• Be respectful of student rights
• You may Teach; you may not Preach
• Teaching about Religion is encouraged;
but must align with curriculum objectives
• Be sensitive: Not all students celebrate
the same holidays the same way
Questions?
• Visit with your site administrators or
supervisor
• Contact Debbie Burchfield, Assistant
Superintendent at
debbie.burchfield@jenksps.org
Acknowledgements:
Charles C. Haynes and Oliver Thomas, “Finding Common Ground, A Guide to
Religious Liberty in Public Schools,” First Amendment Center, 2002.
Many thanks to Jennifer Freeman, Jenks Alternative Center teacher, for her
contributions to this presentation.