Conflicting opinions between two circuit court decisions set the stage for another consideration of school officials' discretion in deciding whether the Equal Access Act would apply to their schools based on the presence or absence of a limited open forum. (MLF)

A school dance in Purdy, Missouri, occurred only because a federal district court prohibited enforcement of the school board's policy barring social dancing on school property. The commentary examines that district court opinion, subsequent events in the community, the appeal, and the Eighth Circuit Court's holding in the case. (MLF)

Several court cases have involved the provision of special education services to students who attend parochial schools. In "Zobrest," the Supreme Court ruled in favor of providing a sign-language interpreter to a parochial school student. Reviews that decision against the backdrop of establishment clause decisions in general. (MLF)

Critically examines and responds to the persistent argument by religionists that high school graduation prayer is somehow constitutional despite "Lee versus Weisman." Addresses the loopholes advocated and concludes that the courts have clearly rejected each of them. (183 footnotes) (MLF)

Despite the United States Supreme Court's decision to let stand a judgment that the New Jersey law mandating a daily minute of silence in schools violated the first amendment, the Court, when presented with a statute resulting from a nonreligious purpose, may find a moment of silence permissible. (MLF)

Explores the background of the "Lee" case, in which the Supreme Court, by a 5-4 decision, declared that graduation prayers violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. Cites implications of the Supreme Court for future Establishment Clause cases. (54 footnotes) (MLF)

Traces legislative history of the Equal Access Act of 1984 and the United States Supreme Court Justices' reasoning in the "Mergens" decision. At least six justices seem to agree that the proper Establishment Clause doctrine is that government can accommodate religion so long as its accommodation is neutral. (MLF)

Describes appropriate school district policies and procedures in light of two U.S. Supreme Court religion-in-schools decisions: "Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe" and "The Good News Club v. Milford Central School." (PKP)

Describes and analyzes December 2000 Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals holding that Cleveland school voucher program violated the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution. (PKP)

Three major Supreme Court cases concerning Bible reading and prayer in the public schools are discussed. The constitutional bases for the court cases are the First and Fourteenth Amendments. The former expresses that Congress may make no laws to establish or to prohibit the free exercise of religion and the latter provides that no state shall…

U.S. Supreme Court decisions handed down in June and July 1985 rejected the use of silent periods for religious purposes in the public schools, and restricted the use of public funds to support supplemental educational programs in parochial school settings. (PGD)

The purpose of this article is to 1) examine the interpretive method applied to the United States Constitution referred of as"Original Intent" and the degree, if any, to which it is superior in objectivity than other methods, 2) discuss whether the application of the interpretive method would have an effect preferred by conservative or…

Compares the Supreme Court ruling in "Employment Division, Department of Human Resources of Oregon v. Smith," involving the denial of unemployment compensation to two employees discharged because they ingested peyote, to "Wisconsin v. Yoder," mandating exemption to Amish parents of the state's uniformly applied compulsory…

Discusses reasons why the "Lee v. Weisman" Supreme Court decision that held unconstitutional a Rhode Island school policy for prayer at a junior high school commencement does not extend to the university level. Concludes that an appropriately worded commencement prayer could pass the three-part "Lemon" threshold and not violate…

Examines the issue of whether implementation of the Equal Access Act would violate the constitutions of some states that require a stricter separation of church and state than the federal Constitution. (MLF)