Yesterday’s Wall
Street Journal (p. A11) contained a fascinating op-ed by Houses of Worship
columnist Stephen D. Solomon who reminded readers that the 50th anniversary of Abington School District v. Schempp is
upon us. He said that in this 1963 Supreme Court case, “the justices ruled that
public schools [had] violated…the First Amendment when they sponsored prayer
and Bible readings…[indicating that]…the activities were religious exercises,
violating the “strict neutrality” that the government must show on religion.” Solomon noted that “the court’s ruling effectively prohibited public schools and
their personnel from sponsoring or promoting religious activities…[but]…also emphasized
that America is a nation of great religious variety.” Reflecting on the ruling
and the opinion rendered by then-Justice Clark, Solomon opined “…the court
provided the foundation for including religion in the curriculum in public
schools [and] pointed out that objective study about religion was permitted”
adding that it “is critically important in helping understand art, music,
history and much else in the world…Some [schools] teach world religion
courses…to provide students with religious literacy to help them understand and
respect many different faiths.” Solomon is thoughtful about schools’
responsibilities though, like whether “a world religions course [is] presented
in an objective way or does the teacher tilt the scale toward a particular belief?”
but ends with a clear summative opinion: “Large legal principles require wise
judges and school administrators to apply them to such potentially contentious
matters. But Schempp…points the way –
already being followed around the country – to provide objective teaching about
religion…without imposing beliefs on schoolchildren.”
