Foggy Misconceptions of Separation of Church & State
“Separation of church and state” is one of the most influential and currently misunderstood phrases in our country. Often lobbed like a grenade meant to stop the conversation of faith in public spaces, these weighty words penned by former President Thomas Jefferson have unfortunately been grossly misused. These five powerful words have fed into the growing myths, lies, and misconceptions that stifle religious freedom in our public square — including our public schools.
In its misapplication, school staff and families have become unnecessarily cautious of anything religious, for fear they are doing something wrong. Even teachers and school administrators with the best intentions get this wrong and perpetuate paralyzing fear. And in that paralyzing fear, it is often our children’s personal religious freedom that is silenced.
It’s time for truth to be brought to light and fear dispelled. So, what is the public school’s role in faith?
When it comes to faith in public schools, the proper role of public schools is to allow students to freely express and live out their faith, not to prohibit it. If we are to move forward, clear the fog, and reclaim the notion of the role of public schools in fostering an environment where children can freely exercise their faith, it would be most helpful to identify the truth.
3 Myths and 3 Truths
Let’s debunk three of the most common myths about the phrase “separation of church and state.”
Myth #1: It is in the United States Constitution.
Truth #1: It is NOT in the United States Constitution.
Surprisingly, this phrase is not found anywhere in the Constitution which is the law of our land, including our public schools.
Myth #2: It means children cannot talk about God or pray in public school.
Truth: Children CAN talk about God and pray in public school.
Embedded in the First Amendment is the Establishment Clause that addresses our religious freedoms. This important clause ensures our children’s right to talk about God, pray, and live out their faith wherever they are — even in public school.
Myth #3. It means that teachers cannot talk about religion in public school.
Truth: Teachers CAN talk about religion and their own faith, with a few stipulations detailed by the First Amendment.
These stipulations prohibit the government, including public school teachers, from favoring one religion over another or even favoring religion over non-religion.
Standing Up for the Truth
Ultimately, the government protects religious freedom by neither promoting nor denouncing any one religion. And public schools, as an extension of the government, must do the same. In essence, our kids are free to bring their religion with them into the public square — including public schools! They can practice their faith wherever they are without fear of government censorship or discrimination.
If you’re ready to dive even deeper into this topic, we have some great resources for you.
- Our FREE 22-page guide
- A 35-minute video recording of our webinar, God Was NOT Taken Out of Public Schools
- Our podcast episode with Matt Sharp, from Alliance Defending Freedom, on ways children can express their faith while in public school
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