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Similarly, the Department of Education noted, "Students have a right to distribute religious literature to their schoolmates on the same terms as they are permitted to distribute other literature that is unrelated to school curriculum or activities." But in Wisconsin, an 8-year-old girl was forbidden by her teacher from handing out religious Valentine's Day cards and Halloween cards while other children passed out nonreligious cards. (The Liberty Counsel is suing the district.)

A Virginia school board is dragging its feet in addressing a petition of 450 students who want an elective Bible course (taught from a secular perspective). That should be completely uncontroversial, but just for the record, here's the Department of Education again: "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." In an even crazier case, public school officials in Wyoming banned students from visiting the "From Tent to Temple" exhibit at the Wyoming State Museum because it has historical references to Jewish beliefs about monotheism and the Ten Commandments.

But not all the offenses are from secularists. A Nebraska public school superintendent tried to justify leading students in prayer at a school assembly by saying it was voluntary. But the Department of Education guidelines are clear that "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."

So what is going on here? Why aren't clear, publicized guidelines being followed? An article in Education Week may have the answer: a survey found that "39 percent of administrators and 69 percent of teachers were 'not at all familiar' with the guidelines on religious expression in schools distributed by the Clinton administration in 2000." Apparently so. Not only aren't they familiar with the guidelines, they're not familiar with the principles underlying them: "About six in 10 teachers and administrators did not think students should be allowed to distribute religious materials at schools." As a result of the findings, the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and the First Amendment Center are teaming up on a multiyear project to educate the educators and make First Amendment freedoms more common in public schools. In the meantime, the controversies continue. More are listed below. If you're like Weblog, you'll need a break after all these exasperating stories: here's a baby rhino cam to cool you down.

More on religion and public education:

• Kansas school district bars ministers from visiting students during school hours | Superintendent says meetings had 'too much mixing of religion going on instead of support. (Freedom Forum)

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March (Web-only) 2001, Vol. 45