recitation of the Lord's Prayer, singing of religious songs, and/or prayer in the public schools of each state did not violate their state constitutions. In 1902 the Supreme Court of Nebraska decided that these religious acts in public schools did violate the constitution of Nebraska. "In none of these cases, neither the ones in which religious activities in public schools were upheld nor the ones in which they were struck down, was the Constitution of the United States even mentioned." By 1963 Bible reading was required in 13 states, and permitted in 25 others. However, the Bible's use as devotional literature, or as a book for moral instruction has been forbidden by the United States Supreme Court in the case of Abington School District v. Schempp in 1963.Even such seemingly harmless activities such as Christmas plays, carols, recitations, and the construction of creches, as well as Jewish children enacting the festival of Hanukkah have been brought to a halt by the courts decisions. The position taken by the court is that the First Amendment commands "that the Government maintain strict neutrality, neither aiding nor opposing religion" in the public schools. The schools began to attempt to establish morality codes which could be taught in the public schools. Teachers tried to teach moral values through stressing good citizenship, and on the moral and spiritual values underlying democracy. A study document by the Department of Religion and Public Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. stated that the issues of worship and commitment to a particular faith belonged in the home and church, and that learning ethical codes belonged to the school, along with the home and church. The main problem with the teaching of moral and spiritual values in public school is that these values cannot be taught without asking the question of motivation. No matter how good the intentions of a teacher are in answ...
