Introduces the following Counterpoint article on "Ex Corde Ecclesiae" ("From the Heart of the Church"), a document issued by Pope Paul VI in 1990 that provided guidelines for the operation of Roman Catholic colleges and universities. (PKP)

In "Elk Grove Unified School District v Newdow" ("Elk Grove"), the Supreme Court, in an 8-0 judgment, with three concurrences, upheld the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. In light of the uproar caused by "Elk Grove", this article is divided into three parts. After reviewing the history of the Pledge the second section examines the…

This article reports on the fiery California atheist who lost his bid at the U.S. Supreme Court to get "under God" stricken from the Pledge of Allegiance. Dr. Michael A. Newdow, an emergency-room physician with a law degree who represented himself before the Supreme Court in the high-profile case against the Elk Grove, California, school…

From northern California to southern Florida, there are just too many superintendents who are reluctant to touch religion with the proverbial 10-foot pole. Following the let-sleeping-dogs-lie approach to administration, they start to think about First Amendment solutions only after a fight breaks out. By then it is often too late to avert a bitter…

Church-state issues in education have a long history in America. Although the U.S. Supreme Court has made several landmark decisions with regard to the separation of church and state in schools, strong conservative influences in Southern states, including Louisiana, have resulted in state statutes and individual school-district policies and…

Discusses the implementation of Transcendental Meditation courses in public schools and the "Malnak" decision, analyzes judicial efforts to define religion, and develops a framework by which to determine whether given beliefs or practices can be classified as religious. Available from San Diego Law Review, University of San Diego School…

Argues for a substantial neutrality test to replace the absolute separation form of the tripartite test in construing and applying the establishment clause of the First Amendment. Available from Harvard Society for Law and Public Policy, Inc., Langdell Hall, Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA 02138; $4.00 per issue. (Author/IRT)

Explores the opinions of Justice Rehnquist in issues concerning religion and public education; observes that the Supreme Court appears just one vote away from shifting church/state issues to the local level; and urges those concerned with constitutional values and public education to reexamine the Bill of Rights. (MLF)

Presents activities for teaching high school students about the freedom of religion. Includes student handouts that explain basic constitutional principles and summarize leading U.S. Supreme Court cases concerning religious liberty. Encourages teachers to invite students to speculate on the future relationship of religion and public education. (SG)

Challenges assertion in article by the Alexanders that "Ex Corde Ecclesiae" will increase risk that Catholic institutions of higher education will violate the Establishment Clause. Authors argue that recent Establishment Clause decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court have effectively eliminated the wall of separation between church and…

Florida's Opportunity Scholarships faced their most crucial test in June 2005, as the state supreme court heard arguments in a case about the constitutionality of the voucher program. In more than an hour of oral arguments in "Bush v. Holmes," held June 7, in Tallahassee and shown live on the Internet, lawyers sparred over the…

The Praeger Handbook of American High Schools contains entries that explore the topic of secondary schools in the United States. Entries are arranged alphabetically and cover topics as varied as assessment to the history of the American high school, from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder to gay and straight student alliances, from the No…

This paper discusses the potential impact of a federal bill, H.R. 2797, or the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, on public education. A concern is that legislation will be interpreted more strictly than the normally broad constitutional standards, which may result in a lack of support for treating schools differently than other public entities.…

Because of the pervasive nature of state regulations and programs, it would be virtually impossible to exclude religious organizations from groups eligible to receive state benefits. Such exclusion would be a hostile act and prohibited under the First Amendment. Available from Seton Hall University School of Law, 1095 Raymond Boulevard, Newark, NJ…

Examines recent court holdings concerning the schools and the celebration of religious holidays, the establishment of religious clubs and organizations, and the distribution of Bibles. (IRT)