Reviews a series of First Amendment court cases related to school prayer and Bible reading, including the 1963 decision (Abington v. Schempp) against a Pennsylvania law requiring Bible reading and prayer recitation. Provides suggestions for teaching this case using a portion of Justice Tom C. Clark's opinion of the Supreme Court. Reproducible…

Suggests five guidelines that can be used by teachers and local school district policy committees to accommodate the religious diversity of students while meeting the five historic goals of public schools. Points out emerging issues facing those concerned about religion and First Amendment rights of students and parents. (LS)

Discusses the effects of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision not to enunciate a broad First Amendment protection for student journalists. Examines the decision and provides comments of legal experts and political leaders relative to the impact of the decision in the courts and state legislatures. Reports on teacher and student reactions. (KO)

Outlines a lesson plan for discussing the civil rights of public school students. Uses the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier as a basis for discussing freedom of expression protected by the First Amendment. Provides materials for student use and detailed directions for implementation of the lesson. (KO)

Research shows that the American public is not fully aware of the meaning of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. The article discusses what schools can do to make students more aware of the First Amendment, including allowing student newspapers to be uncensored by administrators and allowing student councils to really…

Examines recent Supreme Court opinions to illustrate how the justices are reinterpreting the First Amendment. Discusses student freedom of expression, freedom of religion, the free exercise clause, and the establishment clause. Concludes that a perceived trend in court decisions to limit freedom of religion and expression requires teachers to help…

States the six messages sent from the Supreme Court in the Hazelwood School District versus Kuhlmeier decision. Comments on the messages sent to federal judges, public school administrators, public school teachers, student journalists, professional press, and to the "education reform movement." (MG)

Provides a reaction from the Student Press Law Center to the Hazelwood School District versus Kuhlmeier decision. Urges student journalists and advisors to continue to do their best to produce quality, intelligent publications and to educate school administration and community about the importance of a free student press. (MG)

Provides reactions from principals, journalism advisors, and journalism students to the Supreme Court decision in the Hazelwood case. (MG)

Surveys Columbia Scholastic Press Association member newspapers to explore the influence of the Supreme Court's ruling in the Hazelwood case. Finds a great deal of control is being exerted over student newspapers across the country. Finds that the clear majority of student newspapers across the United Stated are functioning as forums for student…

Presents a lesson plan on the First Amendment that encourages students to think about what their lives, both now and in the future, would be like without the First Amendment freedoms. Gives the poster "First Amendment Freedoms" that identifies the first five freedoms of the amendment and a student handout. (CMK)

Beyond no-establishment and free-exercise principles, widespread agreement now exists on many thorny church-state questions: school prayer, teaching about religion, Bible clubs, equal access, excusals, distribution of religious literature, religious holidays, creationism, released time, and character education. One issue, speaker versus audience…

There is growing agreement from right to left concerning the role of religion in public schools. Under the First Amendment, public schools can neither inculcate nor inhibit religion. Neutrality means fairness. Students' religious liberty rights must be protected by school policies and practices. Also, religion must be treated fairly in the…

Designed to extend Law Day's impact, this program gives lawyers, judges, and other community leaders the opportunity to teach important lessons about the United States Constitution and the federal government. It is intended to stimulate opportunities for students to reflect on the country's constitutional heritage and gain appreciation for the…

This report provides an overview of church-state conflict incidents that occurred in the United States from September 1990 through August 1991. The report was compiled by Americans United for Separation of Church and State, an organization concerned with the potential erosion of the First Amendment's requirement of separation of church and state.…