It’s pretty well known that the law dictates a separation of church and state, but less people are aware of the legislation that prevents other institutions from allowing certain religious acts on their property.
The First Amendment’s Establishment Clause prevents the government from favoring any one religion in a legal sense.
The clause “not only forbids the government from establishing an official religion, but also prohibits government actions that unduly favor one religion over another.”
How does the education system come into play?
Essentially, private schools run by religious institutions (the Catholic school board for example) would be allowed to make certain religious acts mandatory for students, but any public schools, state schools, or state colleges, would not be legally allowed to encourage, fund, or endorse such acts on their property.
The general wording of the clause allows for a lot of loopholes.
Are public schools allowed to allot specific spaces for religious activities, like quiet prayer rooms for students? Generally yes. Are staff allowed to express their religious beliefs on the property? Again, generally yes.
This is where things get hairy, because a lot of public schools that are located in areas with large religious communities adapt certain religiously biased rules, from simple turns of phrase to full on ceremony.
One high school football team is baptizing its players.
Photos have emerged of a “baptism” taking place on public school property in Alabama, organized by Devin Roberts, coach of the Washington County High School Football team.
Each student athlete is lined up to “accept Jesus.”
The unidentified pastor dips each student’s head into the water, as parents take photos nearby.
“This is the profession of your faith,” the pastor said to each teenager, “now I baptize you in the name of the father, son and holy spirit.”
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is demanding the school district stop “further illegal religious events.”
“It is inappropriate for a public school district to proselytize students by organizing a team baptism,” the letter from FFRF addressed to the Washington County Schools superintendent read.
“It is equally inappropriate and unconstitutional for coaches to have participated, even if students or the [Fellowship of Christian Athletes] organized the baptism.”
“It’s hard to imagine a more blatant violation of the Establishment Clause than public school students being baptized on school property.”
The FFRF stated that this case was particularly problematic because of the association with a school sports team, “given the pressure players feel to conform to coaches’ expectations, so as not to disappoint coaches or hurt their standing on the team.”
“Any student and their family could potentially take legal action over the District’s violation of their constitutional rights.”
Though the group is unsure as to whether they will pursue legal action on the case, they have made it clear that any parent of a child at the school has legal grounds to pursue litigation if they wish.
Washington County High School has yet to comment on the released photos.
Do you think that the FFRF is being too aggressive with their case, or are baptisms on school property much more detrimental to the institution than they appear?
h/t: Yahoo Lifestyle