What specific rights do Christian kids have when it comes to meeting or sharing religious ideas on campus? Here’s the Student’s Bill of Rights on a Public School Campus:

 

 I.   THE RIGHT to meet with other religious students and discuss religious issues.

 

 II.   THE RIGHT to identify your religious beliefs through signs and symbols. Students are free to express their religious beliefs through signs and symbols.

 

 III.   THE RIGHT to talk about your religious beliefs on campus. Freedom of speech is a fundamental right mandated in the Constitution and does not exclude the schoolyard.

 

 IV.   THE RIGHT to distribute religious literature on campus.

 

 V.   THE RIGHT to pray on campus.  Students may pray alone or with others so long as it does not disrupt school activities or is not forced upon others.

 

 VI.   THE RIGHT to carry or study your Bible on campus. The Supreme Court has said that only state-directed Bible reading is unconstitutional.

 

 VII.   THE RIGHT to do research papers, speeches, and creative projects with religious themes.

 

 VIII.   THE RIGHT to be exempt.  Students may be exempt from activities and class content that contradict their religious beliefs.

 

IX.   THE RIGHT to celebrate or study religious holidays on campus. 

 

X.   THE RIGHT to meet with school officials. The First Amendment to the Constitution forbids Congress to make any law that would restrict the right of the people to petition the government (school officials).

© 1990 by J. W. Brinkley and Roever Communications.

 

For advice or counsel in dealing with an Equal Access legal issue, we recommend:

 

The American Center for Law and Justiceay Alan Sekulow, Lead Counsel

PO Box 90555

Washington, D.C. 20090-0555

Phone: (757) 226-2489Fax: (757) 226-2836

www.aclj.org