The constitutionality of officially sponsored or sanctioned prayer at public school events will continue to be one of the most hotly disputed issues in the church/state arena. A 5th Circuit decision, which will be reviewed by the Supreme Court this term, held that while student-led prayers at graduation ceremonies are permissible if they are non-sectarian and non-proselytizing, such student-led prayers at public high school sporting events are unconstitutional. This decision has caused a great deal of political controversy, leading, among other things, to passage of a House measure supporting the legality of prayers offered at public school sporting events. The JCPA will continue to oppose any form of officially sponsored, organized or sanctioned prayer at school programs, including sporting events, on the grounds that such prayer violates the Establishment Clause, marginalizing those students of different faiths or no faith at all.

Efforts to introduce government sponsored or endorsed religion into the nation’s public schools received an unfortunate boost from tragic schoolhouse shootings in Littleton, Colorado, and elsewhere. The JCPA will continue to oppose unconstitutional measures that have been introduced as a panacea to deep, endemic societal problems, such as the House bill that would permit the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. Nevertheless, the JCPA recognizes that America’s public schools are not meant to be "religion-free" zones, and that there are constitutionally appropriate ways to teach about religions —- their views, roles in history, culture, philosophy, literature and the arts. Finally, the JCPA will continue to oppose initiatives to stifle the teaching of evolution in public schools, and/or to promote the teaching of creationism.

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