Tennessee Legislature Moving Forward with Religion in Schools Legislation

Written by Don Byrd
Yet another bill related to religion in schools took another step toward becoming law in Tennessee yesterday.

The House Education Committee passed legislation that attempts to protect religious speech by students, requiring school districts to establish a limited public forum at school assemblies like graduation and awards day to allow for religious speech.

School Teacher’s Religious Banner Appeal Declined by SCOTUS

Written by Don Byrd
In addition to the Nampa Classical Academy denial, the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday also declined to hear the Poway Unified School District case. There a teacher challenged the school district’s requirement that he remove his classroom banners with phrases like “God Shed His Grace on Thee.”

Distribution of Taxpayer Funds with Religious Restrictions Ruled Unconstitutional

Written by Don Byrd
A federal judge in Massachusetts has ruled that the Department of Health and Human Services violated the Establishment Clause of the Constitution by allowing the US Conference of Catholic Bishops the right to distribute taxpayer funds based upon religious beliefs. The grants were awarded pursuant to legislation designed to combat human trafficking.

U.S. Supreme Court Declines Nampa Classical’s Bible Curriculum Case

Written by Don Byrd
I suppose it’s possible that this isn’t the biggest news to come out of the U.S. Supreme Court today – I seem to remember they are up to something else this week… but in the orders issued today, they declined to take up the case of Nampa Classical Academy. Nampa was a charter school in Idaho that requested to use the Bible as central part of its primary source curriculum.

Ten Commandments Monument Outside PA School Sparks Controversy

Written by Don Byrd
A Ten Commandments monument has been outside Valley High School in New Kensington, Pennsylvania for more than 50 years years. That tradition is finally coming under scrutiny after a complaint filed by the Freedom From Religion Foundation raised concerns about the church-state implications of the display.

Anti-Evolution Bill Passes Tennessee Senate

Written by Don Byrd
The Tennessee Senate passed legislation that purports to empower public school science teachers with the right to discuss anti-evolution views, including creationism, in class. The Wall Street Journal has more: