Bitter wrangling over religious issues has been an all-too-common scenario in U.S. public schools. Curriculum content, instructional techniques, and school policies have all touched off highly charged disputes among people whose religious convictions differ. As the religious and ethnic diversity of the population grows, public schools are struggling more than ever to respect the rights of all constituents while maintaining the separation of church and state.
The California 3Rs Project, sponsored by The Freedom Forum First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University, has helped California educators and community members resolve religious conflicts. A similar training opportunity is now being offered for educators from around the country (see box).
The California 3Rs Project helps educators better understand—and apply—the civic principles of the religious liberty clauses of the First Amendment. Teams of educators and community members attend a seminar where they learn about these civic principles and how to use them to reach consensus on religious issues that confront schools. A workshop covers teaching about religions and cultures. The teams then work in their communities to create support for the three Rs—the Right to freedom of conscience, the Responsibility to protect that right for others, and the commitment to Respect others (including during debate).
The 3Rs Project works because combatants in local disputes come to realize that the civic framework embodied in the First Amendment "works in everyone's best interest," explains Charles Haynes, scholar in residence at The Freedom Forum First Amendment Center. When all sides have agreed to abide by the three Rs—and have realized they aren't being asked to compromise their religious convictions—then progress can begin toward finding a solution acceptable to all. The civic ground rules "allow people who are deeply different to remain citizens of one country"—or of one school, Haynes says.
The 3Rs Project provides a way to bring people with diverse religious and ethnic perspectives together to establish common ground, says Margaret Hill, who coordinates the history/social sciences curriculum for San Bernardino County. The program supports "society building," she says. "It allows us to talk about the hard issues dividing us, with respect." It also builds trust among community members, who begin to feel more comfortable discussing their concerns with school officials, she adds.
Applying the 3Rs concepts has yielded "a lot more mutual understanding and respect," says Jan Vondra, assistant superintendent in the Snowline Joint Unified School District. Educators should pursue "trust building and respectful dialogue" with all elements of the community, Vondra says. "Each voice, even the dissenting voice, has a right to be heard and respected." When dealing with sensitive issues, her district solicits feedback from the local ministerial council, a parent advisory council, a PTA council, and a council composed of teachers.
A key component, Vondra says, is modeling of the 3Rs concepts by the school board, when they disagree—respectfully—in public. "It obviously all starts there."
Using the 3Rs principles, the Ramona Unified School District has developed a detailed policy on "recognition of religious beliefs and customs," which spells out the rights and responsibilities of students and staff members, says Joe Annicharico, assistant superintendent. The local ministerial association was asked to review the document. "They now feel that they're in this conversation," he reports.
To meet parents' concerns, the district allows opt-out provisions and has changed the school calendar to accommodate more religious holidays, Annicharico says. Dealing with specific issues is "a lot easier than everyone taking their respective corners," he maintains. "It's not that difficult to find common ground—and it's only fair."
Haynes agrees that making schools "fair and neutral" on religious issues is less difficult than one might think. Although people may disagree on gray-area issues such as prayer at school events, the areas of agreement are "broad and wide."
Resources
Resources
A two-day conference for educators and community members on how to find common ground on issues concerning religion and public schools will be held February 9–11, 1996, at The Freedom Forum First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University. (Participants must pay for their transportation to and from Nashville; meals and lodging will be provided.) Fifty participants will be selected from among those who submit application forms. For more information, contact John Leach at The Freedom Forum First Amendment Center (phone: 615-321-9588; fax: 615-321-9599).
Finding Common Ground: A First Amendment Guide to Religion and Public Education, edited by Charles Haynes, is available from The Freedom Forum First Amendment Center for $9.50. This 190-page book provides useful information on the subject of religious expression and practices in schools.
“Religious Liberty, Public Education, and the Future of American Democracy: A Statement of Principles,” a set of civic ground rules for addressing conflicts in education, is available free of charge from The Freedom Forum First Amendment Center. The Statement of Principles is sponsored by ASCD and 19 other diverse organizations, including the Christian Coalition, the National Association of Evangelicals, the NEA, and People for the American Way. (The statement was printed in the May 1995 issue of Educational Leadership.)
For more information, contact The Freedom Forum First Amendment Center, Vanderbilt University, 1207 18th Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37212; (615) 321-9588.
