Displaying Religious Assignment in a Classroom: First Amedment Case Essay

Introduction, issue 1: displaying the artwork, issue 2: grading the essay.

Religion is a significant part of life, protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Under the Amendment, the government can neither establish a religion nor abridge the freedoms of free exercise of religion or free speech. These clauses can constitute a contradiction when persons bring religious symbols or discussions to the public space. This is particularly legally challenging in a public-school setting, where displaying religious symbols can be seen as being endorsed by the school, which contradicts the Establishment Clause. In the provided example, a student’s essay and artwork depicting Jesus raise two legal issues.

The First Amendment prevents the government from prohibiting the free exercise of religion. However, permanent displays of religious symbols are not permissible under the Establishment Clause (Anti-Defamation League, 2012). Existing guidelines state that such displays may be permissible if they are temporary and integrated into a secular curriculum (Anti-Defamation League, 2012). Furthermore, such a display can fall under the distribution of student materials, which the school can restrict based on their content, viewpoint, or the validity of its educational message (Anti-Defamation League, 2012). The artwork needs to be reviewed and these questions answered to determine whether it can be displayed in the classroom. If displaying the artwork is agreed to be permissible, an additional disclaimer should be added to it, explaining that the school does not endorse its message.

Generally, the U.S. Supreme Court views public displays of religious symbols on school property as unconstitutional. Specifically, in Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe (2000), the Court ruled that delivering a prayer over the school’s public announcement (PA) system was unconstitutional since its use of the school’s equipment led to the audience assuming that the school endorsed the message. Furthermore, the same case used Lee. v. Weisman as precedent to establish that such messages are delivered to a captive audience (1992). Finally, in Engel v.Vitale (1962), the Court established that school-led religious activity is unconstitutional regardless of its content or ties to a particular religion. These rulings illustrate the unconstitutionality of using school resources for religious messaging by its students.

Grading the essay submitted by the student raises similar issues related to the perceived endorsement of its content. Any grade, positive or negative, can be viewed as either promoting or denigrating the religion, which contradicts the Establishment Clause (Haynes & Thomas, 2007. While teaching religion in schools is unconstitutional, teaching about religion is not (Haynes & Thomas 2007. Students are allowed to express their religious beliefs in their homework or artwork assignments, as such expression is protected by the First Amendment’s free exercise and free speech clauses (Haynes & Thomas 2007. The grading of such work, however, should only “be judged by ordinary academic standards of substance and relevance, and against other legitimate pedagogical concerns” (Haynes & Thomas, 2007 p. 53). Ultimately, this means that while grading the essay in question is possible, the teacher needs to take care not to include any religious matters in his or her judgment.

School students presenting religious content or expressing religious views in their assignments raise significant legal issues in regards to the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. While such expressions are permitted under the free exercise and free speech clauses, the school cannot endorse or denigrate them. Therefore, an essay that discusses religious subjects can be graded by ordinary academic standards, not by any religious content. Religious artwork submitted for an assignment needs to be reviewed and may be temporarily displayed in a classroom, if it is presented in a neutral context, pertains to the current curriculum, and an explicit disclaimer is added explaining that the school does not endorse the message.

Anti-Defamation League. (2012). Religion in the Public Schools . New York, NY: Author.

Engel v. Vitale, 370. U.S. 421 (1962).

Haynes, C., & Thomas, O. (2007). Finding Common Ground: A First Amendment Guide to Religion and Public Schools . Nashville, TN: First Amendment Center.

Lee v. Weisman, 505 U.S. 577 (1992).

Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe, 530 U.S. 290 (2000).

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IvyPanda. (2023, October 31). Displaying Religious Assignment in a Classroom: First Amedment Case. https://ivypanda.com/essays/displaying-religious-assignment-in-a-classroom-first-amedment-case/

"Displaying Religious Assignment in a Classroom: First Amedment Case." IvyPanda , 31 Oct. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/displaying-religious-assignment-in-a-classroom-first-amedment-case/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'Displaying Religious Assignment in a Classroom: First Amedment Case'. 31 October.

IvyPanda . 2023. "Displaying Religious Assignment in a Classroom: First Amedment Case." October 31, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/displaying-religious-assignment-in-a-classroom-first-amedment-case/.

1. IvyPanda . "Displaying Religious Assignment in a Classroom: First Amedment Case." October 31, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/displaying-religious-assignment-in-a-classroom-first-amedment-case/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Displaying Religious Assignment in a Classroom: First Amedment Case." October 31, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/displaying-religious-assignment-in-a-classroom-first-amedment-case/.

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Definition of religious adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

  • religious beliefs/convictions/faith
  • religious freedom/liberty
  • religious traditions/practices/ceremonies
  • religious institutions/organizations
  • religious education (= education about religion)
  • religious instruction (= instruction in a particular religion)
  • a religious order (= group of people living in a religious community)
  • a religious minority/community
  • The situation for many ethnic and religious minorities remains dangerous.
  • religious groups/leaders
  • religious conservatives
  • In 2000, the Greek government eliminated religious affiliation from citizens' identity cards.
  • objects which have a religious significance
  • a religious house (= a monastery or convent )
  • He distanced himself from the strictly religious aspects of the music.
  • Yoga is essentially religious and not just physical.
  • the specifically religious content of the programme

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religious assignment synonyms

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Synonyms for assignment

  • responsibility
  • appointment
  • undertaking
  • designation
  • distribution
  • consignment
  • dealing out
  • assignation
  • apportionment

the act of distributing or the condition of being distributed

  • admeasurement
  • dispensation

the act of attributing

  • attribution

a piece of work that has been assigned

A making over of legal ownership or title, a duty that you are assigned to perform (especially in the armed forces).

  • duty assignment

Related Words

  • sentry duty
  • fatigue duty
  • reassignment
  • service abroad
  • shipboard duty

the instrument by which a claim or right or interest or property is transferred from one person to another

  • legal document
  • legal instrument
  • official document
  • jurisprudence

the act of distributing something to designated places or persons

  • storage allocation

(law) a transfer of property by deed of conveyance

  • transferred possession
  • transferred property

an undertaking that you have been assigned to do (as by an instructor)

  • school assignment
  • writing assignment
  • written assignment

the act of putting a person into a non-elective position

  • determination
  • co-optation
  • recognition
  • assertively
  • assertiveness
  • assertiveness training
  • asseveration
  • asseverator
  • assibilation
  • assiduousness
  • assimilable
  • assimilating
  • assimilation
  • assimilative
  • assimilator
  • assimilatory
  • assistant foreman
  • assistant professor
  • assisted suicide
  • associability
  • associableness
  • associate degree
  • Associate in Applied Science
  • Associate in Arts
  • assigned to
  • assigning to
  • Assignment (computer science)
  • Assignment (education)
  • Assignment (law)
  • Assignment Action Number
  • Assignment and Analysis of Broadband Spectra
  • Assignment and Justification Questionnaire
  • Assignment and Lease
  • Assignment and Licensing System
  • Assignment and Transmittal Document
  • Assignment Area
  • Assignment Availability Code
  • Assignment by Choice
  • Assignment Capsule
  • Assignment Capsules
  • Assignment Clause, Life Insurance
  • Assignment Completed
  • Assignment Consideration
  • Assignment Control Authority
  • Assignment Control Number
  • Assignment Coordination Group
  • Assignment Data Card
  • Assignment Date
  • Assignment Eligibility & Availability
  • Assignment for benefit of creditors
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Synonyms of 'assignment' in American English

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  1. ASSIGNMENT Synonyms: 97 Similar and Opposite Words

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  2. RELIGIOUS Synonyms: 206 Similar and Opposite Words

    Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance spiritual sacred liturgical devotional holy ritual solemn consecrated blest sacramental sacrosanct blessed sanctified hallowed semireligious semisacred Antonyms & Near Antonyms secular nonreligious profane earthly worldly terrestrial mundane terrene 2 as in pious

  3. What is another word for religious instruction

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  4. 38 Synonyms & Antonyms for ASSIGNMENT

    noun (2) as in responsibility, task as in View definitions for assignment assignment responsibility, task Compare Synonyms selecting or setting apart Compare Synonyms

  5. What is another word for religious?

    pietistic. pontifical. sacerdotal. sacrosanct. supernatural. theistic. more . "My own religious practices and beliefs have nothing at all to do with the perception of those around me.". Adjective.

  6. RELIGION Synonyms: 43 Similar and Opposite Words

    1 as in cult a body of beliefs and practices regarding the supernatural and the worship of one or more deities the Jewish religion has followers in many parts of the globe Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance cult persuasion creed sect theology faith denomination church doctrine communion credo dogma paganism monotheism theism polytheism pantheism

  7. Religious

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  8. RELIGION in Thesaurus: 100+ Synonyms & Antonyms for RELIGION

    Most related words/phrases with sentence examples define Religion meaning and usage. Thesaurus for Religion. Related terms for religion- synonyms, antonyms and sentences with religion. Lists. synonyms. antonyms. definitions. sentences. thesaurus. Parts of speech. nouns. adjectives. verbs. Synonyms Similar meaning. View all.

  9. Displaying Religious Assignment in a Classroom

    Weisman, 505 U.S. 577 (1992). Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe, 530 U.S. 290 (2000). This essay, "Displaying Religious Assignment in a Classroom: First Amedment Case" is published exclusively on IvyPanda's free essay examples database. You can use it for research and reference purposes to write your own paper.

  10. RELIGIOUS Synonyms

    Synonyms for RELIGIOUS in English: spiritual, holy, sacred, divine, theological, righteous, sectarian, sanctified, doctrinal, devotional, …

  11. religious adjective

    Definition of religious adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. ... (of a person) believing strongly in a particular religion and obeying its laws and practices synonym devout. His wife is very religious. a deeply religious man;

  12. RELIGIOUS FAITH

    RELIGIOUS FAITH - Synonyms, related words and examples | Cambridge English Thesaurus

  13. ASSIGNMENT Synonyms

    Synonyms for ASSIGNMENT in English: task, work, job, charge, position, post, commission, exercise, responsibility, duty, …

  14. Assignment synonyms

    n. # duty , work duty n. # work , task mission n. # business allocation n. # present appointment n. # place allotment n. # arrangement charge n. , v. # duty , entrustment

  15. ASSIGNMENT in Thesaurus: 1000+ Synonyms & Antonyms for ASSIGNMENT

    Most related words/phrases with sentence examples define Assignment meaning and usage. Thesaurus for Assignment. Related terms for assignment- synonyms, antonyms and sentences with assignment. Lists. synonyms. antonyms. definitions. sentences. thesaurus. Parts of speech. nouns. verbs. adjectives. Synonyms Similar meaning.

  16. Religion

    religion, human beings' relation to that which they regard as holy, sacred, absolute, spiritual, divine, or worthy of especial reverence. It is also commonly regarded as consisting of the way people deal with ultimate concerns about their lives and their fate after death.In many traditions, this relation and these concerns are expressed in terms of one's relationship with or attitude ...

  17. Assignment synonyms, assignment antonyms

    Synonyms for assignment Collins Roget's WordNet noun task Synonyms task work job charge position post commission exercise responsibility duty mission appointment undertaking occupation chore noun selection Synonyms selection choice option appointment delegation nomination

  18. ASSIGNMENT

    ASSIGNMENT - 18 Synonyms and Antonyms - Cambridge English Synonyms and antonyms of assignment in English assignment noun These are words and phrases related to assignment. Click on any word or phrase to go to its thesaurus page. Or, go to the definition of assignment. The student's assignment was to write a book report. Synonyms homework lesson

  19. RELIGIONS Synonyms: 25 Similar and Opposite Words

    Synonyms for RELIGIONS: cults, persuasions, sects, faiths, denominations, creeds, theologies, churches; Antonyms of RELIGIONS: agnosticism, atheisms, secularisms ...

  20. What is another word for religious organization

    Need similar words from our thesaurus that you can use instead. Noun. An organization dedicated to religious doctrines or pursuits. religious institution. church. cult. denomination. faith. sect.

  21. ASSIGNMENTS Synonyms: 92 Similar and Opposite Words

    ASSIGNMENTS Synonyms: 92 Similar and Opposite Words | Merriam-Webster Thesaurus Synonyms of assignments assignments noun Definition of assignments plural of assignment 1 as in tasks a piece of work that needs to be done regularly his first newspaper assignment was writing obituaries Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance tasks duties jobs projects

  22. assignment

    assignment - WordReference thesaurus: synonyms, discussion and more. All Free.

  23. Synonyms of ASSIGNMENT

    Synonyms of 'assignment' in British English. assignment. Explore 'assignment' in the dictionary. assignment. 1 (noun) in the sense of task. Definition. something that has been assigned, such as a task. The course involves written assignments and practical tests. Synonyms.