I1600 - Separation of Church and State

Introduction

The following administrative rules and guidelines have been developed to assist school personnel in determining how to carry out the intent of School District 4J Board Policies IGAC and JEFB.

1. That public schools exist to provide a secular education for all children, and religious instruction is not appropriate in the public schools.
2. That it is appropriate for public schools to teach about religions within a cultural and historical context for the purpose of meeting secular educational objectives.
3. That public schools may acknowledge traditional holidays which have both a religious and secular basis.

Rules and Guidelines

1. Schools must maintain religious neutrality.  Religious neutrality means that schools must not aid or inhibit any religion nor favor believers or nonbelievers.  Teachers should avoid practices which tend to single out and isolate pupils and result in their having to choose between participating in some activity and violating their own religious beliefs.  Although it may not be possible to avoid every activity which may offend any student, the district is committed to egalitarian principles and will refrain from religious observances or celebrations using public funds, time, or facilities.
   Programs which teach about religion and its role in the social and historical development of civilization do not violate the religious neutrality of the public school.
   Students are excused from school, without any penalty, for religious holy days.
2. Schools may teach about religions and religious freedom.  Public schools should take cognizance of religion and its role in human society. (Factual and objective teaching about religion is distinguished from religious instruction.)  Intercultural programs focusing on the role that religion has played in history are desirable in a multiethnic society.  The district encourages programs which educate students about the principles of religious liberty as one of the central elements of freedom in America.
   Teachers may explain the meanings of various religious activities and holidays.  To be sure that adequate, accurate information is provided, teachers should usually not ask children to explain religious practices or observances since they may not have a clear understanding of the subject.  It is preferable to ask a qualified adult to explain the practice or observance.
   Any student who objects to instruction about religion or religious holidays shall be exempted from that instruction or given alternatives.
3. Schools may acknowledge traditional holidays that have both a religious and secular basis.  The following rules will apply for holiday activities and programs:
   1. Neither worship services nor religious ceremonies or programs of any kind shall be held in observance of any holiday.
   2. Traditional religious music is permitted only as a minor part of a school-sponsored activity or program during a holiday season.
   3. The display of religious symbols such as a cross, nativity scene, Star of David, or other symbols that are a part of a religious holiday is not permitted.
   4. Seasonal decorations associated with holidays are permissible, provided the decorations are not religious in nature.
   5. Exchanging gifts as a celebration of any holiday shall be avoided because such a practice causes considerable distress for students who cannot participate.
4. School facilities may be used by groups or individuals for religious purposes outside of regular school hours, under specific conditions.  Board policy KG gives specific conditions for building usage after school hours.
   According to board policy, visitors to schools must have a purpose related to the district's educational programs, the immediate personal welfare of the student, or be enrolled in another secondary or elementary school.  Visitors whose purpose is to influence or solicit students shall be denied entry to the school, based upon the principal's judgment of their purposes.  Board policy forbids allowing nonstudents to meet with students for religious purposes on school premises, except that which is incidental to renting or leasing of school buildings.
   Baccalaureate exercises which are religious in nature may not involve the use of school funds or school time.  Such an activity may be held in a school building as a Class II C activity, under Board policy KG, Community Use of School Facilities.  
5. Students may be released for religious instruction under the provisions of Oregon Law.  School board policy JEFB states:
   

   District 4J will permit elementary and secondary school students to be released from school each week consistent with Oregon law for religious instruction.
   Religious teachers will not be permitted to promote student participation by directly contacting students on school premises, or by involving students in the released time program to recruit their friends who remain in the classroom.  This means that all promotional activites will be conducted away from the school premises.
   A written request must be signed by parent or guardian before the student is released.
   

   Teachers and principals are directed to remain neutral in this matter, neither encouraging nor discouraging student participation.  Parents may be notified by bulletin or newsletter that permission slips are available in each school office and will be issued upon request.  After a parent permission slip has been received by the school, the student is expected to attend the released time classes, unless the parent rescinds the permission or approves an absence.  Students attending the released time program will be excused by the classroom teacher at the scheduled time approved by the principal.
6. High Schools may allow religious meetings of students.  The United State Supreme Court has upheld the right of student religious groups or clubs to meet at high schools that allow non-curriculum related student groups to meet (i.e., schools that have a limited open forum).  All District 4J high schools have limited open forums and cannot discriminate against meetings of students on the basis of political, philosophical, or religious speech.  Therefore, District 4J high schools must allow groups of students to have religious meetings, consistent with the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.
   The following rules apply to religious meetings by high school students.
   1. The school cannot sponsor religious clubs, but the school may officially recognize a student religious club.  A group of students cannot become a sponsored school club.
   2. Groups of students may form a club and may have religious meetings, including religious reading and prayer.
   3. Facilities should be made available for these students just as they would be for other groups of students (including sanctioned school clubs).  Therefore, if you allow students to meet during the lunch hour, you must allow students to have religious meetings at this time as well.  You may limit all student meetings to before or after school if you choose to do so for all clubs.
   4. It is acceptable to have a faculty monitor attend for custodial purposes only and to provide general supervision.  The faculty monitor may not participate in the activity nor advise students about their activities.
   5. No nonschool person can direct, control or regularly attend student religious meetings.
   6. Students who want to meet to have religous discussions may distribute leaflets to other students and may hang posters in the "free speech" area designated by the school administration.  School announcements, including the use of the public address system, should be allowed to the same extent for religious clubs as for other clubs.