Education: Religious Expression

Many public school teachers and administrators think they cannot teach students about these holidays. And many parents have become timid about how much their child can share his or her faith in the setting of public schools.

For instance, did you know that the U.S. Court of Appeals has ruled in support of a school's right to teach about Christian holidays. The court said: "It would be literally impossible to develop a public school curriculum that did not in some way affect the religious or nonreligious sensibilities of some of the students or their parents. School administrators should, of course, be sensitive to the religious beliefs or disbeliefs of their constituents . . . but they need not and should not sacrifice the quality of their students' education."

Keep informed about the rights that teachers, students, and parents have to participate honestly and freely in the public education system. Alos learn how rights differ between a teacher, student, and parent/community member.