The role of religion in American society has been ignored by textbook publishers and is not being taught in U.S. schools. The support for the separation of church and state is eroding as a result. Includes a sidebar providing supplementary resource materials on religion for use by teachers. (MD)

Implications and ramifications of the religion clauses of the First Amendment are examined. Supreme Court rulings of the last six years concerning many issues, including government and privately sponsored nativity scenes in public places, public aid to parochial schools, and equal access of religious groups to public school facilities, are…

Intended to be a practical guide to the issues that arise under the First Amendment for libraries that provide public access to the Internet, this book contains the following chapters: (1) "Questions and Answers about the First Amendment: Sex, Lies, and Cyberspace"; (2) "Basic First Amendment Principles and Their Application to…

The common ground approach to religion in public schools includes government neutrality toward religion and provides an equitable civic framework for all groups. Schools are legally obligated to accommodate students' religious needs whenever possible. This article presents guidelines about what teachers and students can and cannot do in certain…

Presents a lesson plan to focus students' attention on the Supreme Court decision that the Communications Decency Act of 1996 violated the First Amendment right to free speech. Includes a background statement, list of objectives, outline of procedures, handout about the case, and a handout with discussion questions. (DSK)

Designed to supplement students' study of the Bill of Rights and the First Amendment, this text can help them identify the First Amendment as a blueprint for a tolerant society. The introduction explains the purpose of the book and describes its contents. The first chapter discusses events leading to the First Amendment's creation. The chapter…

This teacher's guide is designed to accompany the two-part videotape "For Which It Stands: Flag Burning and the First Amendment." The videotape and teacher's guide should help students to: (1) understand the emotion and significance of the flag-burning issue; (2) examine the free speech aspect of the First Amendment of the Bill of…

This is the first of four special handbooks on constitutional themes. "The Idea of Liberty" (I. Starr) suggests that for teaching purposes, the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights is an excellent operating definition of liberty. "Introducing the First Amendment" (D. Sorenson) is a lesson plan for use with upper elementary and…

The definition of religious freedom from the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom (1786) to the most recent U.S. Supreme Court decision is not clear and well-defined. The two religious clauses found in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (those denying Congress the right either to establish religion or to prohibit its free exercise)…

Through an examination of U.S. circuit, district, and Supreme Court school library censorship cases from 1972 to 1982 an attempt is made to discover whether school officials' actions and court officials' decisions show a reverence for the spirit of First Amendment freedom of expression guarantees. (MBR)

Examines the current relationship between religious liberty and U.S. democracy. Presents a proposal to reforge the U.S. public philosophy according to the notion of chartered pluralism that celebrates the diversity embodied in the First Amendment. Ties this to the conflict between communitarianism and libertarianism. (DB)

Recommends that secondary social studies teachers help students recognize their own thought processes to develop critical thinking skills. Provides examples of applying the Social Studies Strategies Survey's cognitive strategies to case studies dealing with first amendment issues. Contends that teachers must understand their own cognitive…

Analyzes the private school choice debate through a review of the political and judicial history of efforts to provide private schools and their patrons with forms of public aid. It is predicted that a federal tax credit or tuition plan is not likely to succeed in Congress. (SLD)

This book focuses on book-banning in public schools and libraries, a practice that prohibits or restricts access to books already published, distributed, and even approved by school or library boards. The major grounds for censorship are sex, profanity, and religion, but they are often intertwined to cover a broad range of "unacceptable"…

Court cases involving student discipline, especially in regard to student publications and dress and appearance, is the subject of this chapter. The introduction discusses the doctrine of in locus parentis, the celebrated Supreme Court case of Tinker, and the minimum essentials for enforcing rules of student conduct. The first half of the chapter…