ExerciseClause. The Establishment Clause has been translated as to say the Congressshall make no law respecting an establishment of religion (Concerned Women forAmerica 1). The second clause deals with exactly what the title implies---the freeexercise of religion. It basically states that Congress can make no law prohibitinganyones right to freely exercise their religious beliefs (CWA 1). Therefore, students have the same right to engage in individual or groupprayer and religious discussion during the school day as they do to engage inother comparable activities (U.S. Dept. Of Education 1). Individual students arefree to pray, express, religious viewpoints, read the Bible, and carry on any otherform of religious expression as long as they are not being disruptive ordisrespectful to the rights of other students. Students are also allowed toparticipate in religious clubs or groups at school. According the Equal Access Act,if a secondary school permits other extracurricular activities time to meet duringnon-instructional periods, then religiously affiliated groups must be given equaltreatment (American Bar Association 1). Such meetings are protected by theEqual Access Act and may include a prayer service, Bible reading, or otherworship exercises (U.S. Dept. of Education 4). However, all meetings, clubs, and other activities that are connected inany way to the church or any other religious topic absolutely must notdiscriminate against any one religion or be a requirement for students to takepart (Robinson, Religion in U.S. Public Schools 2-3). Also, all functions must bestudent led (ABA 1). Teachers and school administrators, when acting in suchcapacities, are representatives of the state and are prohibited from soliciting,encouraging, or participating in any of these activities (U.S. Dept. of Education2). At the same time that school officials are banned from encouraging suchactivities, they are also prohibited to discourage them in any w...
