Is there national consensus on teaching about religion in public schools?

The First Amendment Center, an important forum for the exploration of free-expression issues, has been instrumental in the search for common ground on issues related to the exercise of religion and public education. In the late 1990s, the center spearheaded the development of constitutional and educational guidelines for teaching about religion. Our organization was invited to collaborate in the drafting of several informative guides: A Parent’s Guide to Religion in the Public Schools, The Bible & Public Schools, and A Teacher’s Guide to Religion in the Public Schools, and Religious Liberty, Public Education, and the Future of American Democracy: A Statement of Principles. These materials have been endorsed by numerous civic, educational and faith organizations, reflecting consensus on the importance of academic study of religion and of affirming the rights of students of all faiths and none. Collectively, the guides convey that religion may not be promoted in school practices and policies, nor may public schools be entirely religion-free zones.

We have employed the guidelines in our academic reviews, our resources for educators, and in our training programs. IRCV has played a significant role in disseminating the guidelines to educators nationwide as well as internationally through engagement with participants in the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership program.

For more information: {link to post – Resources: Guides}