right to carry or study religious scripture on campus (Brinkley, 2001). The Supreme Court has said that only state-directed Bible reading is unconstitutional.Students have the right to do research papers, speeches, and creative projects with religious themes (Brinkley, 2001). The First Amendment does not forbid all mention of religion in public schools. Students may express their beliefs about religion in the form of homework, artwork, and other written and oral assignments free of discrimination based on the religious content of their submissions. Such home and classroom work should be judged by ordinary academic standards of substance and relevance, and against other legitimate pedagogical concerns identified by the school. Students have the right to be exempt (Brinkley, 2001). Under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act 3, if it is proved that particular lessons substantially burden a student's free exercise of religion and if the school cannot prove a compelling interest in requiring attendance, the school would be legally required to excuse the student. Student may be exempt from activities and class content that contradict their religious beliefs. Subject to applicable State laws, schools enjoy substantial discretion to excuse individual students from lessons that are objectionable to the student or the students' parents on religious or other conscientious grounds. However, students generally do not have a federal right to be excused from lessons that may be inconsistent with their religious beliefs or practices (Riley, 1998). Students have the right to celebrate or study religious holidays on campus (Brinkley, 2001). Music, art, literature, and drama that have religious themes are permitted as part of the curriculum for school activities if presented in an objective manner as a traditional part of the cultural and religious heritage of the particular holiday. Students have the right to distribute religious literature on ca...
