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These schools served local communities and the families of which those communities were composed. To speak of "public values" in those days would have been to speak nonsense. The community chose what to teach, and that was that. Of course, many of the choices were terrible, and some were actually oppressive. Yet the model of schools serving not "the public" but families continues to have a certain resonance.

Perhaps we should not reject this model out of hand. Perhaps, instead of viewing public schools entirely as functions of the larger government, we should see them as joint ventures between the government (and its public values) and the local families it serves (and their local values). Rather than alienating parents unnecessarily, perhaps we can find sensible compromises between the all-or-nothing strict separationism of the federal courts and religious domination.

The current public school model is not sustainable. The widespread yearning for school vouchers—popular among parents whose children actually attend public schools—is the best evidence. Parents want to have some say over what happens in their schools. We need to find ways to help them do so.

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Associated Press has an article on the court case that inspired a prayer protest at a Kentucky graduation ceremony.

Stephen Carter's Civil Reactions columns are available on our site.

Editorials on public schools include:

Uncle Sam's Prayer Stick | Educators can no longer afford to ignore federal guidelines on religion in schools. A Christianity Today Editorial (March 1, 2003)

"Children First, Schools Next" Christian parents should not face social stigma for removing kids from public schools. A Christianity Today editorial (September 9, 2002)

Breaking Up a Monopoly | The Supreme Court has put parents back in charge of their children's education. A Christianity Today Editorial (August 5, 2002)

Supreme Court: Court Ruling is Good News for Equal Access | Religious conservatives hail religious club case as protection for free speech. (August 6, 2001)

Good News Indeed | How many times must the Supreme Court tell schools not to exclude faith groups? A Christianity Today Editorial. (August 6, 2001)

Invalidating Valedictorians | It's time to let high school seniors into our democracy A Christianity Today Editorial. (May 21, 2001)

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January 2007, Vol. 51, No. 1