As liberal democracies include increasingly diverse and multifaceted populations, the longstanding debate about the role of the state in religious education and the place of religion in public life seems imperative now more than ever. The maintenance of religious schools and the planning of religious education curricula raise a profound challenge.…

Influential historic documents in American education are presented in Chapter I, including legislation, land grants for common schools and universities and for agricultural and mechanical colleges, Bureau of Education role, early discussion on establishing a national university, and state constitutions' education provisions. Also included are the…