Professional Documents
Culture Documents
including a series of teacher professional development programs around the country, was made possible by generous donations from the George Washington Institute for Religious Freedom.
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Mission Statement
Established in 1999, the Institute is a 501(c)(3) not for profit charity focused on providing educational resources on America's Founding documents and principles for teachers and students of American History and Civics. Our mission is to educate young people about the words and ideas of the Founders, the liberties guaranteed in our Founding documents, and how our Founding principles continue to affect and shape a free society.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies
8. Delineate and evaluate the reasoning in seminal U.S. texts, including the application of constitutional principles and use of legal reasoning (e.g., in U.S. Supreme Court majority opinions and dissents) and the premises, purposes, and arguments in works of public advocacy (e.g., The Federalist, presidential addresses).
Important Definitions
Tolerance: refers to individuals relationships and attitudes toward one another; capacity for or the practice of recognizing and respecting the beliefs or practices of others. Toleration: government policy that permits the practice of certain religions; the practice of religion is a privilege allowed by government. Religious liberty: the idea that freedom of conscience is an inalienable right not under the legitimate control of government.
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5. Not sure
1. It came from Magna Carta. 2. It came from the Bill of Rights. 3. It came from a letter by George Washington. 4. It came from a letter by Thomas Jefferson 5. Not sure
Which statement most accurately completes a comparison between religious toleration and religious liberty?
Religious toleration means that people can worship as they wish, but government has the legitimate power to intervene for any reason.
2. Religious liberty means people have a human right to worship as they wish without government interference for any reason.
3. Religious liberty means that people have a human right to worship as they wish, and government can intervene only to protect the life, property, and safety of others. 4. Religious liberty means that the government can regulate or deny religious worship as they see fit. 5. Not sure
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A public school teacher may lead the class in prayer at the beginning of class time.
1. True 2. False
False: Engel v. Vitale (1962) New York Board of Regents suggested prayer for the beginning of the school day violated the Establishment Clause. Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers and our country. Amen. Students who objected could be excused during the prayer. The state school board did not require the use of this prayer, but did compose and endorse it.
True: School District of Abington Township v. Schempp, 1963 It might well be said that ones education is not complete without a study of comparative religion, or the history of religion and its relationship to the advancement of civilization. Study of the Bible or of religion, (must be)presented objectively as part of a secular program of education
Tax money may be used to help pay teacher salaries in church-related schools.
1. True
2. False
False: In Lemon v. Kurtzman, 1971, the Court developed the three-part Lemon Test for laws dealing with religious establishment. Such a law must : 1. have a secular purpose, 2. have principle effects that neither advance nor inhibit religion, and 3. not foster an excessive government entanglement with religion.
Alton Lemon
A public school teacher may post the Ten Commandments in his or her classroom.
1. True
2. False
False: Stone v. Graham 1980. Unless such a poster is part of a historical display with a secular purpose, for example, in comparative religion or literature studies, the display would violate the Establishment Clause.
A state legislature may require public schools to institute a moment of silence for meditation or voluntary prayer.
1. True 2. False
Depends on the true purpose of the law. In Wallace v. Jaffree 1985, it was clear that the Alabama legislature intended to encourage school-sponsored prayer, so the Alabama statute was unconstitutional.
Public school students have the right to pray individually or in groups while at school. 1. True
2. False
True: Board of Education of Westside Schools v. Mergens 1990 Students may discuss religious topics with their peers as long as they are not disruptive. The Establishment Clause prohibits school endorsement of religious views, but it does not apply to purely private speech; the same rules of order apply to voluntary religious speech as apply to any other type of voluntary student speech.
Public school students may express their religious beliefs in the form of reports, 1. True homework, and artwork. 2. False
True: (Mergens, 1990) Teachers must not reject or correct such submissions simply because they include a religious symbol or address religious themes. These assignments should be judged by ordinary academic standards of substance, relevance, appearance and grammar. There is a crucial difference between government speech endorsing religion, which the Establishment Clause forbids, and private speech endorsing religion, which the Free Speech and Free Exercise Clauses protect.
Public school students may meet in a Bible Study Club on school grounds after school hours. 1. True
2. False
True: (Board of Education v. Mergens, 1990) According to the Equal Access Act, students must be allowed to participate in religious clubs on the same terms as any other noncurricular club. School officials may not actively participate in club activities and non-school persons may not control or regularly attend club meetings.
A Rabbi may lead the audience in a nondenominational prayer at public school graduation. 1. True
2. False
False: Lee v. Weisman 1992: The Establishment Clause was inspired by the lesson that in the hands of government what might begin as a tolerant expression of religious views may end in a policy to indoctrinate and coerce. Prayer exercises in elementary and secondary schools carry a particular risk of indirect coercion. (Providence, RI)
Public school teachers and administrators may actively participate in the annual See You at the Pole observance. 1. True 2. False
False: Peloza v. Capistrano Unified Sch. Dist. ; Lee vs. Weisman; others.Such events are permissible for students, subject to ordinary time, place, and manner policies set by the schools. However, school officials, acting in an official capacity, may neither discourage nor encourage participation in such an event. Any school officials attendance at such events in a custodial oversight role must be voluntary and non-participatory.
Students may lead the student body in prayer on the P.A. system before public school football games.
1. True 2. False
False: In Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe, 2000, the Supreme Court ruled that such a practice indicates school support for religious views, and is impermissible.
State funding may be used to purchase computer equipment for religious schools.
1. True
2. False
True: Mitchell v. Helms 2000 Supreme Court held that the government could pay for computer equipment for public, private, and religious schools because the secular goal was improved education for students.
A public school coach may encourage and participate in a student-led pre-game prayer with his/her team.
1. True
2. False
False: Borden v. School District of the Township of East Brunswick . However, teachers may engage in private religious activity in faculty areas. Supreme Court denied Bordens request on March 2, 2009.
A public school student may post the Ten Commandments in his or her locker.
1. True
2. False
True: Various. If students are permitted to personalize or decorate the inside of their lockers, schools must not discriminate against religious messages.
Lesson One
Massachusetts Bay and Rhode Island
Two Views of Religious Liberty
Lesson One: Massachusetts Bay and Rhode IslandTwo Views of Religious Liberty What is religious liberty?
All the people of god within this Jurisdiction who are not in a church way, and be orthodox in Judgment, and not scandalous in life, shall have full liberty to gather themselves into a Church Estate. Provided they do it in a Christian way, with due observation of the rules of Christ revealed in his word. The Liberties of the Massachusetts Colony in New England, 1641 *T+hey have freely declared, that it is much on their hearts (if they may be permitted), to hold forth a lively experiment, that a most flourishing civil state may stand and best be maintained, and that among our English subjects, with a full liberty in religious concernments Charter of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, 1663
Lesson One: Massachusetts Bay and Rhode IslandTwo Views of Religious Liberty
Overview For Puritans like those who settled Massachusetts Bay, religious liberty meant the freedom to establish religious communities, and to reject from those communities those who did not share their religious perspective. By contrast, Rhode Island was founded on the express principle of religious freedom for all. Rhode Island welcomed people of every (or no) faith, including Quakers and Jews, who were not permitted religious freedom anywhere else in the North American colonies.
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Background Essay: Homework Essay: Massachusetts and Rhode IslandTwo Models of Religious Liberty
Lesson One: Massachusetts Bay and Rhode IslandTwo Views of Religious Liberty
Warm-up--Simulation in which students decide whether to admit reformers to voluntary clubs they have formed. Football Club Music Club Literature Club Computer Club Reformers (C: specific instructions) Which model of church-state relations (Massachusetts Bay or Rhode Island) did your Club group adopt?
John Winthrop
Puritans Model of Christian Charity Massachusetts Body of Liberties Nathaniel Ward Religious Liberty includes a peoples right to exclude nonbelievers. Established in part for the purpose of providing something to the world. Theological arguments for religious liberty Goal of peaceful & successful way of life.
Roger Williams
Separation of Church and State Rhode Island Charter Providence Agreement Bloudy Tenet of Persecution Religious Liberty means freedom of individual conscience.
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Lesson Two
The Constitution, The First Amendment, and Religious Liberty
The efforts of these men gradually inspired other states to disestablish state churches where they existed.
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Roger Williams
*A+ hedge or wall of separation between the garden of the church and the wilderness of the world"
Roger Williams 1644 Letter to John Cotton
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Isaac Backus
Read Essay: The Constitution, the First Amendment, and Religious Liberty and answer the comprehension and critical thinking questions. (p. 16)
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4.Today, there are over 55 countries with established religions. However, a similar number of countries have moved toward religious freedom over the last 150 years. Why do you think the trend over the last 150 years has been to disestablish religions?
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B. Find news articles about events that involve the relationship between government and religion.
Articles are available at www.BillofRightsInsitute.org/Headlines
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B. Have student groups research a country with a strong church-government connection. They should create a short documentary to illustrate how life in that country is different from life in America. Students can begin their research at www.BillofRightsInstitute.org/ReligiousLiberty
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Lesson Three
What is the difference between religious toleration and religious liberty? How can people maintain the highest degree of religious liberty in a free, ordered society?
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This shift was given voice, weight and credibility in George Washingtons 1790 letter to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island.
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...[M]aintaining respect for the religious observances of others is a fundamental civic virtue that governmentcan and should cultivateThe founders of our Republic knew the fearsome potential of sectarian religious belief to generate civil dissension and civil strife. Justice Antonin Scalia, Dissenting Opinion, Lee v. Weisman (1992)
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Appreciate Washingtons letter as an early and important example of the shift from religious toleration to religious liberty in America.
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The delegates in Virginias legislature approved Madisons wording. How does this amendment demonstrate an important shift in thinking about religion and government?
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Discuss your assigned document excerpts and be ready to share your paraphrase. How would you complete the table?
B. Report results. Note trends over time.
George Washington by Gilbert Stuart, 1797
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Washington spoke of the role of the U.S. government in giving persecution no assistance and bigotry no sanction. Do private citizens also have this responsibility to each other? Explain. What does Washington say about the distinction between toleration and liberty in the American political experiment?
What civic values are required of citizens living in a religiously diverse society? (In addition to the ideas students generate, you may suggest respect, consideration, and humility.)
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Lesson Four
. . . the individuals freedom to choose his own creed is the counterpart of his right to refrain from accepting the creed established by the majority. Justice John Paul Stevens, 1985
Assess the usefulness of the wall of separation metaphor in determining the constitutionality of state action with respect to religion.
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Civil Government cannot let any group ride roughshod over others simply because their consciences tell them to do so. - Justice Robert H. Jackson, 1943.
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Work with a partner or two to What are letters in Handout A: analyze both some advantages and disadvantages of metaphors? Danbury Baptists letter to Jefferson and Jeffersons reply.
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What are some reasons that Thomas Jeffersons letter to the Danbury Baptists should be considered an authoritative source on the meaning of the First Amendment?
What are some reasons it should not be considered an authoritative source? How should citizens, lawmakers, and judges approach the task of understanding the First Amendment?
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B. Divide students into six groups and give each group a copy of Handout C: Neither Snow Nor Rain. Assign a Mail Delivery Problem to each group and have them formulate a Post Office Policy for that problem.
Extensions Have students watch JFKs speech to the Greater Houston Ministerial Association (11 minutes) at www.Billofrightsinstitute.org/religiousliberty. Then conduct a large group discussion.
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Lesson Five
Background Essay traces developments through the cases shown in the warmup at the beginning of this program. Document Based Question Jason is the valedictorian of a public high school. Is he allowed to mention his faith in his valedictory address? If he does so, has the school district violated the First Amendment?
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5. Not sure
5. Not sure
Which statement most accurately completes a comparison between religious toleration and religious liberty?
Religious toleration means that people can worship as they wish, but government has the legitimate power to intervene for any reason.
2. Religious liberty means people have a human right to worship as they wish without government interference for any reason.
3. Religious liberty means that people have a human right to worship as they wish, and government can intervene only to protect the life, property, and safety of others. 4. Religious liberty means that the government can regulate or deny religious worship as they see fit. 5. Not sure
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