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For the Record: InfoTrac Reader© on Civil Liberties
 
Religion in Public Schools

Separation of church and state is a controversial issue in the United States, especially in public schools, where the question of what religious activities are allowed or can be officially encouraged or required has dominated public debate and the Supreme Court for decades. What are the philosophical, constitutional, religious and political aspects of this issue? How has the Supreme Court ruled on recent cases? What is currently allowed?

Here are some articles to get you started. Find them through Keyword searches.

For more articles on this subject, enter:

"prayer in public schools" in the Subject Guide.

"pledge of allegiance" in the Subject Guide.

"freedom of religion" in the Subject Guide.

Establishing free exercise. U.S. Supreme Court 2003-2004 term Vincent Phillip Munoz.
First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life Dec 2003 i138 p14(6) (4082 words)

One nation, divided: Supreme Court to rule on controversial pledge case. News Debate
Current Events, a Weekly Reader publication Nov 14, 2003 v103 i11 p3(2) (762 words)

Stand on Ceremony. unconstitutionality of the Pledge of Allegiance
The New Republic Nov 3, 2003 p11 (766 words)

Another try at public school prayer. (Church-State Update). Tom Flynn. Free Inquiry Summer 2003 v23 i3 p53(1) (801 words)

'Under God' doesn't belong in the pledge. (Viewpoint). Tony Mauro. Church & State June 2003 v56 i6 p20(1) (871 words)

COURTSIDE: Under God? (modification to the US Pledge of Allegiance) Perry A. Zirkel. Phi Delta Kappan June 2003 v84 i10 p796 (1731 words)

Public prayer fanatics borrow page from enemy's script. (Up front: news and opinion from independent minds). Roger Ebert. The Humanist May-June 2003 v63 i3 p6(1)

New federal rules support school prayer. (Rights Watch). Michael D. Simpson. NEA Today May 2003 v21 i8 p13(1)

ED: restricting prayer jeopardizes federal funding. Education USA March 2003 v45 i3 p3(2)

Istook launches another `pledge and prayer' crusade. (In The Capital). Church & State April 2003 v56 i4 p3(1)

One nation, under controversy: courts, congress, citizens battle over reference to God in Pledge of Allegiance. Jeremy Leaming. Church & State April 2003 v56 i4 p4(4)

Court suspends its pledge ruling, pending appeal. (Brief Article) Michael Cardman. Education Daily March 6, 2003 v36 i44 p1(1)

Church-state rulings have gone too far, Scalia tells Va. crowd. (People & Events). Church & State Feb 2003 v56 i2 p17(1)

Pledge, national motto re-approved by U.S. House. (In The Capital). (Brief Article) Church & State Nov 2002 v55 i10 p3(1)

"Under God" in the pledge? Last spring, a California court ruled that mentioning God in the Pledge of Allegiance violates the constitution. What do you think? (opinion). Elizabeth Oswald, Alex Martin. New York Times Upfront Nov 1, 2002 v135 i4 p28(1)

The Bellamy boys pledge allegiance. (Flashback: to know nothing of what happened before you were born is to remain ever a child--Cicero). (Frances Bellamy, author of the Pledge of Allegiance) Bill Kaufmann. The American Enterprise Oct-Nov 2002 v13 i7 p50(1)

Political blasphemy. (The public square: a continuing survey of religion and public life). (9th Circuit Court of Appeals declares Pledge of Alligiance unconstitutional) First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life Oct 2002 p91(2)

I may pledge allegiance, but not to any god. (OP-ED). Ed Buckner. Free Inquiry Fall 2002 v22 i4 p17(2)

The U.S. ninth circuit on the Pledge. (OP-ED). (Brief Article) Free Inquiry Fall 2002 v22 i4 p17(1)

The American Creed: US values rest historically on a spiritual foundation grounded in nature. Forrest Church. The Nation Sept 16, 2002 v275 i8 p19 Mag.Coll.: 112B0068.

The Misanthrope's Corner. (Ninth Circuit's ruling on Pledge of Allegiance)(Column)(Brief Article) Florence King. National Review July 29, 2002 v54 i14 p56

School's Out. (recent court decisions involving schools)(Brief Article) KATHA POLLITT. The Nation July 22, 2002 v275 i4 p10

One Nation, Under... Who? Flying the Flag: On the eve of the Fourth, a ruling barring 'under God' from the pledge ignites a furor--and reminds us what freedom's about. (U.S. Pledge of Allegiance) Howard Fineman. Newsweek July 8, 2002 p20

Settlement lets New York student pray before class. (kindergarten student Kayla Broadus, Saratoga Springs, New York)(Brief Article) Education USA June 24, 2002 v44 i13 p7(1)

A quiet compromise: why a moment of silence is better than school prayer. (Civil Reactions). (Brief Article) Stephen L. Carter. Christianity Today Feb 4, 2002 v46 i2 p82(1) Mag.Coll.: 109M4891.

Istook introduces school prayer amendment in house. (In The Capital). (Representative Ernest Istook)(Brief Article) Church & State Feb 2002 v55 i2 p3(1)

Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe: mapping the future of student-led, student-initiated prayer in public schools. Jeremy Speich. Albany Law Review Fall 2001 v65 i1 p271(43)

Faith-Based Proponents Forge Ahead. (Brief Article) Tom Flynn. Free Inquiry Fall 2001 v21 i4 p57

Invalidating Valedictorians. (the case of two valedictorians whose speeches were deemed too religious by a California high school)(Brief Article) Christianity Today May 21, 2001 v45 i7 p35

What Americans think School Prayer. (Brief Article)(Polling Data)(Statistical Data Included) Spectrum: the Journal of State Government Spring 2001 v74 i2 p30

GOD TALK. (tensions between freedom of speech and separation of church and state) Cathy Young. Reason Jan 2001 v32 i8 p37 Mag.Coll.: 109B2598.

Is the Wall Crumbling? (Spreme Court on separation of church and state) NORMAN REDLICH. The Nation Oct 9, 2000 v271 i10 p26 Mag.Coll.: 104G0199.

When Public Schools Get Religion. Rob Boston. Free Inquiry Fall 2000 v20 i4 p34

PRAYER AND CREATIONISM: MET WITH SUPREME HOSTILITY. Stuart Taylor Jr.. National Journal July 15, 2000 v32 i29 p2275

Should school begin with a moment of silence? (Debate) NEA Today Sept 15, 1995 v14 n2 p45(1) Mag.Coll.: 86E2540.

Lead us not into temptation: a Christian case against school prayer. Joe Loconte. Policy Review Wntr 1995 n71 p24(8)

Let us pray. (school prayer) (Editorial) National Review Dec 19, 1994 v46 n24 p16(3) Mag.Coll.: 76K0607.

Founding intentions: Jefferson & Madison on school prayer. Rosemarie Zagarri. The New Republic Sept 9, 1985 v193 p10(2) Mag.Coll.: 28K1160.


Suggested Readings from InfoTrac College Edition

For more articles, enter:

"freedom of religion" into the Subject Guide.

"freedom of the press" into the Subject Guide.

"libel" into the Subject Guide.

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"United States constitution" into the Subject Guide.

"United States Supreme Court" into the Subject Guide.

"capital punishment" into the Subject Guide.

"obscenity" into the Subject Guide.

"right of privacy" into the Subject Guide.

Spiritual healing, sick kids and the law: inequities in the American healthcare system. Janna C. Merrick. American Journal of Law & Medicine Summer-Fall 2003 v29 i2-3 p269(31) (15753 words)

Freedom of religion in America. Gary Taylor, Helen Hawley. Contemporary Review June 2003 v282 i1649 p344(7) (3553 words)

Religion is under siege--really! (OP-ED). Wendy Kaminer. Free Inquiry Spring 2003 v23 i2 p9(2)

The God bullies. (On The Contrary). (sectarian views of Constitutional protection for freedom of religion) Wendy Kaminer. The American Prospect Nov 18, 2002 v13 i21 p9(1)