The School may instruct students in the study of comparative religion or the history of religion and its relationship to the advancement of civilization; the study of the Bible or of religion for its literary and historic qualities, when presented objectively as part of a secular program of education, is consistent with the First Amendment. School Dist. of Abington v. Schempp, 374 U.S. 203, 83 S. Ct. 1560 (1963).
The School shall not require teaching and learning to be tailored to the principles or prohibitions of any religious sect or dogma. The School shall not adopt programs or practices that aid or oppose any religion. Epperson v. Arkansas, 393 U.S. 97, 89 S. Ct. 266 (1968) (holding unconstitutional a prohibition against teaching evolution); Edwards v. Aguillard, 482 U.S. 578, 107 S. Ct. 2573 (1987) (holding unconstitutional a requirement that creationism be taught with evolution)
The School shall not prescribe a religious exercise as part of the curricular activities of students even if the religious exercise is denominationally neutral or its observance on the part of the students is voluntary. School Dist. of Abington v. Schempp, 374 U.S. 203, 83 S. Ct. 1560 (1963) (holding unconstitutional a requirement of daily Bible readings and recitation of the Lord's Prayer); Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421, 82 S. Ct. 1261 (1962) (holding unconstitutional required recitation of state-adopted prayer)
Adopted: 3/7/80
Amended: 1/14/83, 5/30/86, 11/30/90, 1/26/96, 3/26/04
Reviewed: