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Professionally speaking I am currently a teacher at the middle school level, pursuing a Masters Degree in Guidance and Counseling. I intend to work as a public school counselor in the future. This padlet is intended for similar professionals who counsel or teach secondary level students in public schools. I chose religious expression on campus due to the wide spread diversity of students we have across the nation. As our student population becomes more diverse, it is our responsibility as educators to help ensure their religious  rights.

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I interviewed Keith Tompkins, a middle school teacher for the Arlington Independent School District to talk about student religious expression on campus

Why is compliance with student religious expression on campus important?
As an educator, it is critical that we be respectful of our students rights concerning religious freedom and expression during school hours. If we impose our own religious beliefs, or openly reject the students beliefs, this mistake can cost us our job. We would also be limiting the rights of our students. As educators it is our duty to promote a safe environment for all of our students, this means protecting religious rights.

Best Practices for Student Religious Expression?

Allowing religious outerwear and garments for all students to wear  in public schools.

Not revealing to the students what religious affiliation a teacher or counselor is under any circumstance.

Ensuring that all curriculum taught and provided is free of any religious bias.

Emerging Issues or Trends?
One key issue that he observed that has been gathering attention from the media deals with school sport games. Praying as a team with the coach present has brought up controversy around the nation, and although many claim that this is not at school so the same rights are not in effect, it is best to stay away from participating in this activity.  Another trend is keeping political/religious comments to ourselves and away from social media. This could also put educators at risk of losing their  jobs.

(K. Tompkins, personal communication, July 16, 2019)

https://www.aisd.net/workman-junior-high/campus-staff/keith-tompkins/

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The National School Boards Association published a blog helping educators know how to act when religious hateful speech is present in the classroom. Many of these terms that are considered to be hateful speech include anti-Semitic, or Islamophobic language. This language is harmful to the safe environment that students of all religions come from. This resource provides principles that educators can follow to ensure best practice for handling hateful religious speech.

Pollock, Mica. (2019, February 25). Responding to Hateful Speech in Schools [Blog post]. Retrieved from  http://inservice.ascd.org/responding-to-hateful-speech-in-schools/

Link:
http://inservice.ascd.org/responding-to-hateful-speech-in-schools/

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Joseph A. Kennedy, a coach at Bremerton High School, was placed on administrative leave when he did not comply with school district officials rules. The disctrict advised he can hold prayers privately but cannot lead students in joining him in prayers after football matches. The coach sued the disctrict citing the First Amendment to express his faith while on the job; however, the 9th Circuit denied reviewing the case because the panel could not clarify unresolved factual questions.

Walsh, M. (2019, January 22). Supreme Court Declines Case of High School Coach Who Sought to Pray on Field. Retrieved from https://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/school_law/2019/01/supreme_court_denies_case_of_high_school_football_coach_pray.html

Link: https://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/school_law/2019/01/supreme_court_denies_case_of_high_school_football_coach_pray.html

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In Green Valley Middle School (Fairfield, CA), students do not have a Christmas party at school, and Thanksgiving is called "Turkey Day" to honor separation of church and state. However, teachers still teach about religion in an objective manner to help students understand the narrative of world history. Teachers walk a fine line in answering questions about religion, while  not actively promoting their own personal beliefs in the classroom.

Posnick-Goodwin, S. (2018, Decemeber 4). Teaching About Religion. Retrieved from http://neatoday.org/new-educators/teaching-about-religion/

Link:
http://neatoday.org/new-educators/teaching-about-religion/

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Slide 6  Constitutional Law- First Amendment

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Slide 6  Constitutional Law- First Amendment

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U.S. Const. Amend. I

Constitutional

Since the first amendment promotes freedom of religion, this directly applies to students in public school settings as well. Public school teachers and administrators are not to promote their religions as being superior. Being antagonistic to religions of students or secularism must not be allowed. Public prayers in public schools are not to be conducted by any adult who is working for the school district.

Link:
https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/first_amendment

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Slide 7 Judicial Law- Supreme Court Case

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Slide 7 Judicial Law- Supreme Court Case

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Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421 (1962)

Judicial

When a public school in New York required students to perform a nondenominational prayer in school, this action was taken to the Supreme Court in which it was deemed unconstitutional for schools to require students to participate in religious prayers. As educators we are unable to make or show religious preference, and we are not to ever ask them to engage in any religious activity.

Link:
https://www.uscourts.gov/educational-resources/educational-activities/facts-and-case-summary-engel-v-vitale

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Religious Expression in Class Assignments, 25. Tex. Educ. Code § 153

Statutory

Students are allowed to express their religious beliefs through homework, artwork, and other written or oral assignments free from discrimination based on the religious content. This means that educators are not to judge, or have a bias towards their students in the manner in which the teachers treat the students. Homework and classwork must be judged by ordinary academic standards and not religious.

Link:
https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ED/htm/ED.25.htm

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Student Absences on Religious Holy Days, 19. Tex. Admin. Code § 4.4

Administrative

Students who are absent during the school year for religious reasons shall be excused with no excuse or reason. Administrators and teachers are not to expect students to be present if the student has taken the day off for religious reasons.

Link:
https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tloc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=19&pt=1&ch=4&rl=4

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In the updated 2019-2020 Arlington ISD Student Code of Conduct, religious discrimination is described as statements that demean a persons religion. If a student is engaging in this kind of speech or action, it is considered to be a group 3 misbehavior which could result in more serious disciplinary consequences.

2019-2020 Student Code of Conduct. (2019). Retrieved July 21, 2019, from https://www.aisd.net/wp-content/files/2018/07/18-19_Student-Code-of-Conduct-English.pdf

Link:
https://www.aisd.net/wp-content/files/2018/07/18-19_Student-Code-of-Conduct-English.pdf

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ASCA Standard B-PF 6

Standard B-PF 6 states that counselors are to demonstrate basic knowledge and respect differences of religion along with many other factors. What this implies is not speaking against the students religion, or not promoting our own religion to be superior to the students.

American School Counselor Association. (n.d.). ASCA School Counselor Competencies. Retrieved from https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/home/SCCompetencies.pdf

Link:
https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/home/SCCompetencies.pdf

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Religious equity in the schools is a trending issues where students who are Muslim or Jew are starting to see more discrimination. This website provides strategies on how educators can combat this. Tips include:

Establishing a school culture of inclusion and respect for diversity.

Monitor locations where bullying takes place more often.

Promote this awareness through school campaigns.

Johnson, P. (2018, August). Religion Equity in Schools- Protecting Students and their Civil Rights. Retrieved from https://www.idra.org/resource-center/religion-equity-in-schools-protecting-students-and-their-civil-rights/

Link:
https://www.idra.org/resource-center/religion-equity-in-schools-protecting-students-and-their-civil-rights/

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The following is a list of the best practices for protecting students rights regarding religious expression in school based on the previous slides.

As educators and counselors, bias towards religion should not exist in how we see our students.

Realize that students are entitled to religious expression as much as adults.

Never impose a certain religious idea towards the students.

Religious discrimination must be rejected and taken seriously at all times.

Praying with students is never allowed at public school campuses, even at sport games after school.

Never openly reject a students religious  belief or idea that they hold firmly.