Teaching+of+Religion


 * __SECTION V: TEACHING OF RELIGION __ **

** 3. ** **__BIBLE TAUGHT AS PART OF THE CURRICULUM__ ** **6. BOARD POLICIES** **7. REGULATIONS** ||
 * __LINKS TO SPECIFIC TOPICS__: **
 * ** 1. ** **__THEORY OF EVOLUTION & CREATIONISM IN SCHOOLS__ **
 * 2. INTELLIGENT DESIGN **
 * 4. ****__LIMITATION OF TEACHER REFERENCES TO RELIGION IN THE CLASSROOM__ **
 * 5. ****__MEMBERS OF THE CLERGY PARTICIPATING AS VOLUNTEER STAFF __**
 * 1. __TEACHING OF RELIGION: THEORY OF EVOLUTION & CREATIONISM IN__ **
 * __SCHOOLS __**


 * United States ****<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Supreme Court: **
 * <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Established that a school district cannot prohibit the instruction of evolution” (New York State School Boards Association [NYSSBA], 2010, p. 763, School Law § 36:18). The court based its decision on the view that evolution is a science rather than a secular religion (Essex, 2012, p. 39).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Epperson v. //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> //Arkansas//, 393 U.S. 97 (1968)
 * <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Concluded that a school district cannot “require that the instruction of evolution be balanced with instruction of creation science” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 763, School Law § 36:18).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Edwards v. Aguillard //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">, 482 U.S. 578 (1987)

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">U.S. 1251 (2000)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Federal Appellate Courts (outside New York): **
 * <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Held that a school district’s application of stickers to science textbooks warning about the scientific validity of the theory of evolution violates the Establishment Clause of the United States Constitution (Essex, 2012, p. 39).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Selman v. Cobb County School District, //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">390 F.Supp. 2d 1286 (N.D. Ga. 2005)
 * <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“A school district may not require that a disclaimer regarding flaws in the theory of evolution be read before the teaching of evolution in its schools” (NYSSBA, 2010, p 763, School Law § 36:18).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Freiler v. Tangipahoa Parish BOE, //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> 185 F.3d 337 (5th Cir. La. 1999), //cert. denied//, 530


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Federal District Courts (outside of New York): **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Prohibited the teaching of any theory that conflicted with the Genesis version of creation (Essex, 2012, p. 39).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Scopes v. State //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">, 289 S.W. 363, 364 (TN 1927)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">2. __TEACHING OF RELIGION: INTELLIGENT DESIGN__ **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Federal Appellate Courts (outside New York): **
 * <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Ruled that a school board’s policy requiring the teaching of intelligent design in science classes violated the Establishment Clause” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 763, School Law § 36:19). “According to the court, intelligent design is predicated upon the theory that natural selection cannot account for all of life’s evolution and that an intelligent designer must have guided the process” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 763, School Law § 36:19). A reasonable observer would view it as just a new form of creationism, a theory that the United States Supreme Court has long held is nothing more than a religious belief (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 763, School Law § 36:19).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Kitzmiller v. //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> //Dover// //Area// //School District////,// 400 F.Supp.2d 707 (M.D. Pa. 2005)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">3. __TEACHING OF RELIGION: BIBLE TAUGHT AS PART OF THE CURRICULUM__ **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Bible can be taught as part of the curriculum as long as the “Biblical instruction is non-devotional and focuses on literature, history, or social customs” therefore it would not violate the Establishment Clause (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 764, School Law § 36:20).


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">United States ****<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Supreme Court: **
 * <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Ruled that the Bible may be used constitutionally as an appropriate study of history, civilization, ethics, or comparative religion” (Essex, 2012, p. 36). To support this, “a national council on Bible curriculum in the public schools was formed to ensure that reliable information and legal support of schools’ rights to teach the Bible as an elective are ensured” (Essex, 2012, pp. 36-37).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Stone v. Graham, //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">599 S.W. 2d 157 (Ky. 1980)
 * <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ruled that “an infringement of a person’s First Amendment rights guaranteed by the establishment clause, even for minimal periods of time, constituted irreparable injury” (Essex, 2012, p. 37).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Elrod v. Burns, //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">427 U.S. 347, 49 L. Ed. 2d 547, 96 S.Ct. 2673 (1976)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Federal Appellate Courts (outside **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> **New York):**
 * <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Found a school district’s use of a Bible Education Ministry program to meet its character education requirement violated the Establishment Clause because the program taught the Bible as religious truth in addition to focusing on themes of responsibility and courage” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 764, School Law § 36:20).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Doe v. Porter //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">, 370 F.3d 558 (6th Cir. 2004)
 * <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Found that the account of the resurrection of Jesus Christ as presented in the New Testament constitutes the central statement of the Christian religious faith” and “that the only reasonable interpretation of the resurrection is a religious interpretation” (Essex, 2012, p. 37).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Wiley v. Franklin //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">, 497 F.Supp. 390 (E.D. Tenn. 1980)
 * <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The court used the //Lemon// criteria to decide if a Bible course being taught at a public school presented the Bible objectively as part of a secular program in education (Essex, 2012, p. 37). “The court held for the school district based on its view that the district satisfied the secular purpose requirement by adopting a curriculum that was modified on the advise of the school board’s legal counsel” and “that the teachers for the proposed Bible history class had been properly instructed on how and what to teach and what not to teach” (Essex, 2012, p. 37).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Gibson v. Lee Cty. BOE, //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">F.Supp. 2d 1426, 1998 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 2696, 11 Fla.LawW. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 130%;">Fed. D 503 (1998)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">4. __TEACHING OF RELIGION: LIMITATION OF TEACHER REFERENCES TO__ **
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">RELIGION IN THE CLASSROOM __**


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Federal District Court ****<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> (New York): **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Upheld a BOCES directive instructing one of the employees to stop using references to religion in the delivery of the instructional program unless it is a required element of a course of instruction and has prior approval by the supervisor” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 764, School Law § 36:21). “The teacher, who had recently converted to Christianity, admitted modifying his instructional program to discuss such matters as forgiveness, reconciliation, and God” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 764, School Law § 36:21). The court also concluded that “a public school risks violating the separation of church and state if any of its teachers' activities gives the impression that the school endorses religion” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 764, School Law § 36:21). In order to avoid such a violation, a school may prohibit teacher religious expressions and teacher-parent interactions that risk giving the impression thatthe district endorses religion (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 764, School Law § 36:21).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Marchi v. BOCES of //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> //Albany////, Schoharie,// //Schenectady// //&// //Saratoga// //Counties//, 173 F.3d 469 (2d Cir. 1999), //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">cert. denied, // 528 U.S. 869 (1999)
 * <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Found a school district lawfully terminated a substitute teacher for speaking with students about her religious views in class after hearing that a student had died” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 764, School Law § 36:21). “Even if her religious discussion had addressed an issue of public concern, the school board’s compelling interest in avoiding Establishment Clause violations justified its actions in terminating her” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 764, School Law § 36:21).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Rosario // //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">v. Does 110 //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">, 36 F.Appx. 25 (2d Cir. 2002)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Federal District Courts (outside of New York): **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Teachers have no constitutional right to require others to submit to their views and to forgo a portion of their education they would otherwise be entitled to enjoy (Essex, 2012, p. 44).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Palmer v. BOE of the City of Chicago //, 603 F. 2d 1271, 1274 (7th Cir. 1979), cert. denied, 444 U.S. 1026, 100 S.Ct. 689 (1980)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">5. ** **__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">TEACHING OF RELIGION: MEMBERS OF THE CLERGY PARTICIPATING AS __**
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">VOLUNTEER STAFF __**


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Federal Appellate Courts (outside New York): **
 * <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“Ruled that a school district violated the separation of church and state when it implemented a Clergy in Schools volunteer counseling program because it recruited volunteers exclusively from among the local clergy to provide counseling to students in school, during school hours” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 764, School Law § 36:22). “The district’s failure to include lay professionals well qualified to mentor students concerning morals and virtue nullified the secular character of the program, even though the clergy were told to focus on civic values, refrain from discussing sex and abortion, and not to pray with students” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 764, School Law § 36:22). The absence of lay volunteers indicated that the selection of volunteers was based on the fact that they were religious representatives rather than on their alleged listening and communications skills (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 764, School Law § 36:22).
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Doe v. //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> //Beaumont// //Independent// //School District//, 173 F.3d 274 (5th Cir. 1999), //on// //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">remand, //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">224 F. Supp.2d 1099 (E.D. Tex. 2002)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Federal District Courts (outside New York): **
 * <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Ruled a school district violated the Establishment Clause when it arranged a panel comprised exclusively of clergy members to discuss homosexuality and religion at a program held during its diversity week (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 764, School Law § 36:22).
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Hansen v. //Ann Arbor// //Public Schools,// 293 F.Supp.2d 780 (E.D. Mich. 2003)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Federal District Court ****<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> (New York): **
 * <span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">“There is no specific case in New York that addresses this issue” (NYSSBA, 2010, p. 764, School Law § 36:22).


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">6. ** **__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">TEACHING OF RELIGION: BOARD POLICIES __**


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Board Policy 8330: ****<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">OBJECTION TO INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Any criticism of instructional materials that are in the schools should be submitted in writing to the Superintendent. The Board of Education will be informed. A committee, including the librarian and Building Principal, will be designated by the Superintendent to investigate and judge the challenged material according to the principles and qualitative standards stated in Policy #8320 -- __Selection of Library and Multimedia Materials__. (Randolph Central School District, 2011, Board Policy 8330)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Study of Specific Materials/Conflict with Religious Beliefs **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">In accordance with applicable law and regulation, a student may be excused from the study of specific materials relating to health and hygiene if these materials are in conflict with the religion of his/her parents/guardians. Alternatives may be provided that are of comparable instructional value. (Randolph Central School District, 2011, Board Policy 8330)

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Education Law Section 3204(5) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">8 New York Code of Rules and Regulations (NYCRR) Section 135.3


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Board Policy 8334: ****<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION IN THE INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Board of Education acknowledges the importance of religion to the understanding of society and the richness of the human experience. In approaching the teaching about religion in the school, the District will be guided by three concepts when making decisions about the appropriateness of activities for inclusion in the school program: the activity should have a secular purpose; the activity should neither advance nor inhibit religion; and the activity must not foster an excessive entanglement of "government" with religion. (Randolph Central School District, 2011, Board Policy 8334)

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Nurturing the development of knowledge and respect for the rights of all cultural and religious groups is a continuing goal of the School District. Students, faculty and administration are reminded of the pluralism of religious beliefs and are urged to be conscious of and respect the sensitivity of others. (Randolph Central School District, 2011, Board Policy 8334)

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Opportunities to learn about cultural and religious traditions should be provided within the framework of the curriculum. Information about religious and cultural holidays and traditions focusing on how and when they are celebrated, their origins and histories should be part of this instruction. This educational opportunity should be handled with great care, sensitivity and respect for the feelings and beliefs of individuals. (Randolph Central School District, 2011, Board Policy 8334)

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">An environment should be created and encouraged where students of various ethnic backgrounds feel comfortable in sharing comments about their religious and cultural traditions. No student should be singled out to share or participate in such discussions solely on the basis of that student's identification with the cultural/religious heritage being addressed. A student's preference not to share or participate in such discussions should be honored and respected without penalty. (Randolph Central School District, 2011, Board Policy 8334)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">School Activities Related to Religious Holidays or Themes **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">School activities related to the teaching about religious holidays or themes must be consistent with, representative of, and congruent with the District's curriculum. (Randolph Central School District, 2011, Board Policy 8334)

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">In planning school activities related to the teaching about religious holidays or themes, special effort must be made to ensure that the activity is not devotional and that students of all faiths can join without feeling they are betraying their own beliefs. (Randolph Central School District, 2011, Board Policy 8334)

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">In planning school activities related to the teaching about religious holidays or themes, age appropriate activities are encouraged within the framework of the curriculum. Teaching about religious and cultural holidays may include such special activities as parties and special foods, if they reinforce educational goals. (Randolph Central School District, 2011, Board Policy 8334)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Symbols in the Schools **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The purpose of using religious symbols should be to teach about religious concepts and traditions, and to convey historical or cultural content, not to promote or celebrate religious concepts, events or holidays. (Randolph Central School District, 2011, Board Policy 8334)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Music in the Schools **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The purpose of using religious music should be to teach musical concepts, to convey historical and cultural content, or to create aesthetic experiences in a setting which emphasizes artistic expression and educational value, not to promote or to celebrate a religious faith. (Randolph Central School District, 2011, Board Policy 8334)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Curriculum Areas in Conflict with Religious Beliefs **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Students shall be given the option to be excused from participating in those parts of an activity, program, or area of instruction involving a religious theme which conflicts with their own religious beliefs or that of their parents/guardians in accordance with applicable law and regulations. Alternatives may be provided that are of comparable instructional value. (Randolph Central School District, 2011, Board Policy 8334)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Implementation **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Administrative regulations will be developed to implement the terms of this policy. Further, the District shall vigorously publicize and disseminate this policy and accompanying regulations in order to ensure community, faculty, student, and parental/guardian awareness. (Randolph Central School District, 2011, Board Policy 8334)

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">United States Constitution, First Amendment <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Section 9524 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Equal Access Act, 20 United States Code (USC) Sections 4071-4074 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Education Law Sections 1609(9), 1609(10), 1709(1), 1709(3), 3204(5) and 3210 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">8 New York Code of Rules and Regulations (NYCRR) Sections 16.2 and 109.2


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">7. ** **__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">TEACHING OF RELIGION: REGULATIONS __**


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Administrative Regulation 8290R: RELIGIOUS EXPRESSION IN THE PUBLIC **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">SCHOOLS **

These regulations have been developed to provide guidance to District staff and students regarding religious expression in the public schools. Guidance beyond the statements in these regulations may be found in four basic principles which would apply to the topic of teaching about religion in schools:

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">1) Is it constitutionally permissible; <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">2) Is it educationally sound; <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">3) Is it culturally sensitive; and <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">4) Is it age appropriate? (Allegany-Limestone Central School District, 2002, Administrative Regulation 8290R)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Official Neutrality Regarding Religious Activity **

“Teachers and school administrators, when acting in those capacities, are representatives of the state and are prohibited by the establishment clause from soliciting or encouraging religious activity, and from participating in such activity with students. Teachers and administrators also are prohibited from discouraging activity because of its religious content and from soliciting or encouraging anti­religious activity. (Allegany-Limestone Central School District, 2002, Administrative Regulation 8290R)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Teaching About Religion **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Public schools may not provide religious instruction, but they may teach __about__ religion, including the Bible or other scripture: the history of religion, comparative religion, the Bible (or other scripture)-as-literature, and the role of religion in the history of the United States and other countries all are permissible public school subjects. Similarly, it is permissible to consider religious influences on art, music, literature, and social studies. Although public school may teach about religious holidays, including their religious aspects, and may celebrate the secular aspects of holidays, schools may not observe holidays as religious events or promote such observance by students. (Allegany-Limestone Central School District, 2002, Administrative Regulation 8290R)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Student Assignments **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Students may express their beliefs about religion in the form of homework, artwork, and other written and oral assignments free from discrimination based on the religious content of their submissions. Such home and classroom work should be judged by ordinary academic standards of substance and relevance, and against other legitimate pedagogical concerns identified by the school. (Allegany-Limestone Central School District, 2002, Administrative Regulation 8290R)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Religious Exemptions from Instruction **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Subject to applicable state laws, schools enjoy substantial discretion to excuses individual students from lessons that are objectionable to the student or the students’ parents/guardians on religious or other conscientious grounds. However, students generally do not have a federal right to be excused from lessons that may be inconsistent with their religious beliefs or practices. School officials may neither encourage nor discourage students from availing themselves of such a religious exemption. However, if such exemption is granted, alternative activities may be provided that are of comparable instructional value. (Allegany-Limestone Central School District, 2002, Administrative Regulation 8290R)


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Teaching Values **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Though schools must be neutral with respect to religion, they may play an active role with respect to teaching civic values and virtue, and the moral code that holds us together as a community. The fact that some of these values are held also by religions does not make it unlawful to teach them in school. (Allegany-Limestone Central School District, 2002, Administrative Regulation 8290R)