Self Test for Lesson 1

1.    Suppose you are asked to explain the meaning of a “religiously neutral” classroom.  Which statements below accurately state the principle?

a teacher cannot profess that s/he has been saved

students' worldviews are looked upon as appropriate for them

a teacher refrains from telling students what s/he believes

students are not allowed to mention their personal religion in class

students can write essays defending their own worldviews

no one’s worldview is regarded with favoritism

2.    Harbor School's policy manual lists “reasons for assuring classroom neutrality.”  Find the one reason that is false.

To see to it that the various adherents in a school are treated justly

To ensure that no position of belief is disparaged or endorsed

To make certain that the curriculum does not sanction any belief of conscience

To deem the various worldviews equally valid

3.    Select from among the statements below the single notion that most clearly underlies the legal directive to public schools to maintain religious neutrality:

Educators have academic freedom to plan curriculum and choose concepts

A citizen has freedom to hold to his/her core beliefs without loss of rights

Any American has freedom to speak out on issues that concern him/her

A person is at liberty to freely act on personal religious preferences

o ensure that the curriculum does not sanction any belief of conscience

4.    Which of the following is the single preeminent source reason for public school’s governance on religious neutrality?

Court decisions on various cases prevent public schools from “establishing” religion in violation of religious liberty clauses in constitutions.

The local school has an elected Board of Education (it can pass a neutrality policy)

There is a “free exercise” clause contained in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution (it admonishes Congress not to prohibit religious practice)

The U.S. Congress can take action to discontinue certain practices if it so chooses (e.g., pass laws against school-sponsored worship services)

5.    Check all permissible actions for a public school.

The school can expel a student for his/her religious beliefs or nonbeliefs.

The school can refuse to accept a student who is not religious.

Students can include their own worldviews when writing essays

A teacher can teach that his/her religion is the right religion for the students.

A teacher can assign students to say and write religious belief statements.

A teacher can teach: “Some people believe that angels are real.”

6.    Which is the best teacher strategy for achieving neutrality in your classroom?

Have a lesson specifically on the concept of neutrality

Compare and contrast several different religions for the students

Continuously model how students should be acting with one another

Distinguish religion and nonreligion for the students

   True    False

 7.           It is the public school's job to see that each child's freedom of conscience is protected.

 8.           People who hold to a minority or unfamiliar religion do not have freedom of conscience rights in the United States.

 9.           People who reject religion entirely lose their religious liberty rights.

10.           Teachers in private schools may speak for or speak against a religious doctrine.

11.           Teachers in public schools may promote religion over nonreligion as long as they do not advance any particular religion over others. 

12.           A civil public school calls for both teachers and students to respect others' freedom of conscience.

13.           A teacher giving preference to a particular religious outlook would violate the First Amendment free expression clause.

14.           A teacher should give more support to a majority religion than to one of the minority faiths.

15.           Upholding students' religious liberty rights is giving your approval to their worldviews.

16.           The neutrality ideal applies to treatment across the different religious faiths but can be waived for nonreligious people.

17.           The neutrality ideal supports giving to those persons whose beliefs contrast with your own the regard you want given to you and those who share your worldview.

    In the United States, government at all levels is to treat freedom of conscience as of each and every person.  The freedom of conscience protections grow out of the .

    Along with other portions of the Bill of Rights, the two clauses of the U.S. Constitution underlie an American citizen's guarantee of religious freedom. They  support freedom of conscience rights of , even members of the smallest minorities.  The clauses form a for treatment of religion by government.  They also form the guiding principles for .

    As institutions, schools are legally bound to establish school communities in which students are not insiders or outsiders based on their beliefs of conscience.  Public schools have to treat all students as to hold to their particular outlooks.  The schools as institutions are responsible for ensuring that students can maintain personal of conscience with regard to their religious or nonreligious convictions.  Every “citizen” of a has a freedom of conscience right that is to be respected and protected.  The school safeguards throughout the school community.

     Schools must be neutral toward all of the varied .  In a classroom that is , teachers ensure a level playing field for all, giving just consideration and respect to each person.  They also model how, as Americans, we share to respect and guard the rights of others.  Students learn to respect the freedom of conscience rights of their peers.  They learn that we are to be as conscientious in safeguarding rights of persons who hold unfamiliar or as we are in protecting rights of persons whose convictions are culturally mainstream.

33.  Would there be a “level playing field” in class if a teacher remarks to Tomas as shown below?  (If not, explain whose outlook is elevated, whose is diminished.)

"Tomas, you went last year, as I recall.  Would you tell the class what they’ll be missing if they don’t attend the [revival, Easter sunrise service, etc.] we'll be going to next week?"