Religion and the Public Schools: A Summary of the Law.

Intended to provide school officials an understanding of the legal aspects of common religious liberty and church-state questions in the public school context, this pamphlet attempts an objective summary of the current status of church-state law as it applies to the public schools. The document seeks to catalogue objectively the law as found in authoritative legal sources. Rather than citing all case law on a specific issue, where earlier decisions are subsumed or superseded by a controlling Supreme Court decision, the pamphlet cites only the Supreme Court precedent. Only when the document believes rulings are cast into doubt by subsequent developments or where the decisions themselves are unusually doubtful does it comment on the correctness of decisions/opinions cited. The document includes sections on the law regarding: prayer in school; teaching about religion; use of classroom space for religious activity; holiday observances; release time programs; physical facilities; dual enrollment; distribution of religious literature; baccalaureate services and graduation; scientific creationism; curriculum content; secular humanism; compulsory attendance and religious holidays; dress codes; vaccination requirements; and teachers' responsibilities and rights. The pamphlet concludes with a subject index for quick reference. Included is a separate December 1994 update citing and summarizing recent changes in the law on religion and the public schools. (LH)