Examines the consitutional guarantee of freedom of religion and how the courts have applied it to different areas of school law and school-church relations. (JG)

Two issues are important in the controversy over religion in the schools: whether or not the approaches being advocated by religious groups are educationally sound, and the constitutional issue of the public's right to control its schools. (MD)

Deals with court decisions related to secular humanism in public schools. States that the major issues are: (1) whether or not secular humanism is a religion; and (2) whether or not it is being promoted in public schools. Relates implications of the court's apparent definition of secular as nonreligious, rather than anti-religious. (LS)

The Virginia Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the issuance of tax exempt bonds to a religiously affiliated university violated both state and federal constitutions. Reviews the court decision, analyzes the constitutional issues, and contends that court actions intruded beyond the permissible boundaries of constitutional neutrality. (38…

Discusses basis for the June 2001 U.S. Supreme Court's 6-3 decision in New York case "Good News Club v. Milford Central School," wherein Court held that the Christian religious club for students had the Constitutional right under Free Speech Clause of First Amendment to use public school facilities after school hours. (PKP)

Reviews basis for U.S. Supreme Court's June 2001 decision in "Good News Club v. Milford Central School," where Court held that the Christian religious club for students had the Constitutional right under the Free Speech Clause to use public school facilities after school hours. Explains impact of decision on board of education policy.…

This article examines an emerging preference for education tax credit programs in a post-"Zelman" era. First, the authors detail the origin of tax credits and the types of existing plans. Second, they review the assumptions underlying the supposed advantages that may favor tax credits as a feasible alternative to vouchers. Third, they…

The Convocation on Academic Freedom promotes discussion on academic freedom through theme-centered presentations. This talk examines the United States Supreme Court's interpretation of the religion clauses of the Constitution in the context of education. The focus is on the First Amendment's establishment clause, which enforces separation of…

This report analyzes recent cases and legislation in the area of church-state separation. A brief introduction asserts that the Supreme Court's method of evaluating establishment clause controversies is undergoing pervasive changes that have permitted incursions on establishment principles. The rest of the paper, providing support for this…

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…

Argues that the National Labor Relations Board was correct both on policy and constitutional grounds to assert jurisdiction over parochial schools. Also analyzes weaknesses in the board's discussion of constitutional issues in Bishop of Chicago vs NLRB, in which Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the board's asserted jurisdiction over a…

Discusses interpretations of the establishment clause of the First Amendment. Outlines how Supreme Court decisions involving separation of church and state have been based on misinterpretations both of the First Amendment and of the intentions of its framers. (MD)

Church and state is discussed in four articles: "Recent Threats to Religious Liberty" (Dean M. Kelley, pp.16-22); "Municipal Church-State Litigation and the Issue of Standing" (Kenneth S. Saladin, pp. 23-25); "Prayer in Public Schools: The Court's Decisions" (Leo Pfeffer, pp. 26-29); and "Religion and Public…

These final regulations implement Executive branch policy that, within the framework of constitutional church-state guidelines, religiously affiliated (or "faith-based") organizations should be able to compete on an equal footing with other organizations for funding by the U.S. Department of Education (Department). Department regulations…

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…