​Students do not shed their religious liberties at the schoolhouse door.  Students are allowed to bring their Bibles to school, wear Christian t-shirts and jewelry (as long as they comply with the school's dress code), and talk to their classmates about religious issues, as long as they are not disrupting the educational process.  Students may even open their Bible and read it during class, so long as it is a common, non-instructional reading time in which the teacher permits an open reading of any school approved book.

​

While in class, students are free to express their religious views in a class discussion or as part of an assignment, so long as the expression is relevant to the subject under consideration and meets the requirements of the assignment.  Secondly, under the federal Equal Access Act, 20 U.S.C. 4071 (http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/20/4071), voluntary, student-initiated religious clubs are allowed in public schools that receive federal funds.  Upheld by a 1990 Supreme Court case, the Act provides that schools that allow non-curricular clubs (e.g., a chess club) to meet on school grounds during non-instructional time must also allow religious clubs to meet.  Moreover, religious clubs must be given equal access to all school facilities, resources, and equipment that are available to other non-curricular clubs.  This includes equal access to the school media (such as bulletin boards, the public address system, announcements, and the school newspaper) made available to other clubs to advertise their activities and events.

 

The key to any religious club in a public school is that it must be student-initiated and student-run.  Most of the time, there will be a teacher who supervises the leaders and the club meetings. The teacher's job is limited to ensuring the meetings are conducted in accordance with good practice and within the scope of school policies.  The students in charge of the club can often choose their own student leaders subject to relevant school policies and can ordinarily restrict leadership roles to people of their own faith; however, local law and policy may require otherwise.  I recommend that the club not restrict general membership.  In other words, as long as students behave during the meeting, let them come, regardless of what they profess to believe.

​

​​​​

Click here to download "Truth in our Schools": a brochure about students' religious rights in the public schools, created by the Alliance Defending Freedom law firm.

 

Bible clubs have a legal right to:

• Initiate, lead and voluntarily participate in a Bible club.

• Meet on campus on the same basis as other non-curricular clubs.

• Pray, read the Bible and worship at Bible club meetings.

• Have a school employee present to maintain order and protect school property.

• Have an outside advisor.

• Use the school announcements and bulletin board as any other club would.

• Have occasional guest speakers.

• Have an unlimited number of student members.

• Require that club officers are Christian.

• Carry or study a Bible.

 

A Bible club cannot:

• Have meetings regularly led or supervised by a non-student.

• Substantially disrupt regular school activities.

• Do anything illegal.
   

The school's role:

• A teacher or faculty member may not initiate or participate in the club.

• The school may not influence the form or content of club meetings.

• The school may not require any person to participate in your club.

• The school has the right to maintain order, discipline and the well-being of the student body.

 

 

 

To visit the next section, "Running Your Club", click here.