LegalIssueSurroundingPrayerinSchools HughScott,LarryHodgkins,JenniferBerry EducationalLaw Dr.KevinBrady June27,2012 Prayerat: Graduation StaffLuncheon/Gatherings AthleticEvents StudentInitiatedPrayer ***Beginthesessionbyaskingeveryonetobowtheirheadsforamomentofsilenceforprayer ormeditation(EstablishmentClause) 1. Activator(57min) a. SurveyofPersonalPrayerExperiences b.

b. HypotheticalQuestions i. Atthestaffluncheonattheendoftheschoolyear,ateacherannounces thatshewouldliketoleadtheteachersinaprayerbeforeeatingand beginstoprayaloud.(Constitutional1stAmendment?) ii. BeforetheEOG,astudentstandsupandsaysthateveryoneneedsto sayaprayerbeforetakingtheexam.Shethentellsallthestudentsto standinacircle,andsheleadsthestudentsinprayer.(NotConstitutional EstablishmentCause) iii. Theprincipalplacesaflyerinalloftheteachersboxesstatingthatthere willbeaprayermeetingforallinterestedstaffmemberstomeetona certaindateandtimeintheschoolsmediacentertoprayovertheneeds oftheschool.Theflyeralsoincludesalistofspecificprayerconcernsfor theschoolforstafftobeprayingaboutinthemeantime.(Unconstitutional Lemonv.Kurtzman(1971)excessiveentanglementwithreligion) iv. Beforebeginningasoccergame,astudentleadshisteammatesina shortprayerduringtheteamhuddlethatisalsoplayedovertheintercom. (NotConstitutionalSantaFeIndependentSchoolDistrictv.Doe2000 SupremeCourtruledthatstudentreligiousexpressionwasnotprotected speechsinceitwasoccurringonschoolproperty,underschool supervision,andasarepresentativeoftheschoolstudentbody) v. Theprincipaloftheschoolhasinvitedthepastorofalocalchurchto provideabriefprayeranddevotionaltimeatthebeginningofthe graduationceremony.(NotConstitutionalLeev.Weisman1992the SupremeCourtruledthatthiswasnotallowedasithadacoerciveeffect onstudentswhowouldfeelobligatedtoparticipateduringthe schoolsponsoredgraduationceremony) vi. Atthespringchoralconcert,thechorussingsthesong,DidMyLord

DeliverDaniel.(Constitutionalsolongasthemusicisapartofthe curriculum&thechorussingsothersongsandnotjustsolelyreligious songs) 2. Rationale/Objectives(23) a. Afterthelesson b. Teacherswillbeabletoidentifywhenprayerisconstitutionallyallowedinschools. c. Teacherswillbeabletoidentifywhenprayerisnotconstitutionallyallowedin schools. d. Teacherswillbefamiliarwithkeycourtcasedecisionsthathaveclarifiedthe definitionofconstitutionallyprotectedandunprotectedprayerinschool. 3. TheLaw a. PowerpointPresentation i. CourtCasesDeptofEdPrayerGuidance ii. FreeExerciseClause(1stAmendment)freedomtopracticeyourreligion protectsstudentsintheirreligiousexpressionsstudentsmayprayin school&sharetheirbeliefswithclassmatessolongasitdoesnotcause adisruption iii. EqualAccessAct(1984)permitsgroupsofstudentstoorganizereligious groupsinschoolsecondarystudentscanformstudentled,noncurricular clubstomeetduringnoninstructionaltime iv. SantaFeIndependentSchoolDistrictv.Doe2000studentreligious expressionisnotprotectedifthespeechisperceivedasrepresentingthe schoolandisnotconsideredprivatespeech v. Leev.Weisman1992principalsarenotallowedtoinviteclergymembers todeliverprayersatgraduationceremoniesisseenashavingacoercive effectandtocreatepeerpressureonstudentstoparticipateduringa schoolsponsoredeventdespitethefactthattheeventwasoptional vi. Lemonv.Kurtzman1971establisheda3parttestfordeterminingifa governmentpracticeisconstitutional:1)musthaveasecularpurpose2) primaryeffectmustnotadvanceorinhibitreligion3)mustnotfosteran excessivegovernmentalentanglementwithreligion vii. Lynchv.DonnellyrefinementoftheLemontestisitthepurposeofthe governmenttoendorsereligionanddoesthegovernmentpolicyconveya messageofendorsement? 4. ApplicationofContenttoPractice a. Answeringthequestionsofthehypotheticals(answerslistedattheendofeach statement) b. BestPracticesforprincipalstoinformstaffaboutthelawespeciallywhenit conflictswiththecustomshistoricallyestablishedattheschool. i. CrucialConversations(groupactivity)giveeachgrouponeofthe unconstitutionalscenariosabove&havethegroupdecidehowtheycould usetheirCrucialConversationskillstoaddressthissituationifitwereto ariseattheirschool

5. Assessment a. Indexcard(cancreateaGoogleFormthatteacherscouldcompleteandsubmit ontheircomputers) i. 3thingsyoulearned ii. 3thingsyouwanttoknowmoreabout