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Teachers’ Religious Expression in Public Schools
Teachers’ Religious Expression in Public Schools
During instructional time, teachers and other school employees are acting in their official capacities and must remain neutral toward religion. As stated above, school district employees can discuss the historical and cultural role of religion as part of a secular program of education. Teachers and other school employees can only promote religion when not acting in their official capacities. According to the U.S. Department of Education: [teachers may] take part in religious activities where the overall context makes clear that they are not participating in their official capacities. Before school or during lunch, for example, teachers may meet with other teachers for prayer or Bible study to the same extent that they may engage in other conversation or nonreligious activities.[36] Similarly, outside of the school day, school officials are allowed to participate in private religious events. This is even true when the private religious event takes place on school grounds before or after school hours. For example, if a church group rents out a classroom after school hours for a Christmas party, the teacher may attend, just like any other private citizen.[37] Moreover, if the school allows teachers to meet during non-instructional time in school facilities for various social purposes, such as meeting for social organizations or conversations on any topic, then the school is prohibited from barring the use of school facilities for employee-only prayer groups during non-instructional time.[38] However, if the school policy prohibits all “non-business related activity” in a particular room and does not use the room for multiple purposes, it can probably exclude employee prayer groups from that room.[39] According to the Department of Education, “before school or during lunch, for example, teachers may meet with other teachers for prayer or Bible study to the same extent that they may engage in other conversation or nonreligious activity.”[40] Likewise, if the school allows outside groups or individuals to use school
Teachers’ Religious Expression in Public Schools
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