RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Overview of Supreme Court Precedent
One of the controversial church-state issues in educational contexts in recent years has been the permissible restrictions that may be placed on curriculum in schools. The Establishment Clause requires that the government remain neutral in matters related to religion and not endorse one particular religion over another, or endorse religion generally. This rule extends to curriculum decisions made for public schools. The issue of curriculum restrictions is highlighted in debates regarding creationism, evolution and intelligent design in science curricula and has been a source of debate for decades. In 1968, the U.S. Supreme Court considered whether the First Amendment permitted…
