The Free Exercise of Religion
https://constitutioncenter.org/media/files/5._Free_Exercise_Clause_Lesson_Plan_.pdf

WEB LESSON The First Amendment has two clauses related to religion, specifically preventing the establishment of religion and the ability to freely exercise religious beliefs. The goal of this lesson is for students to gain a deeper understanding of the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment. They will do this by understanding the history of the clause, as well as the relevant Supreme Court cases that will help students interpret how this clause has been applied. Students will also use scholarly essays and the text of the U.S. Constitution to evaluate current issues and cases that involve the Free Exercise Clause. HS

ID: 106. Added: 2011-10-21 20:52:21

Workplace Equality for LGBT People: Bostock v Clayton County
https://www.crf-usa.org/images/pdf/members/bria_36_1-wb.pdf

WEB LESSONS After the Bostock v. Clayton County decision, many people on the political right and left, expressed their agreement or disagreement with the decision. In a small group or online breakout room, discuss each of the two opinions below. Decide as a group which description of the Bostock case your group thinks is more accu- rate. Use evidence from the article in your decision and choose a spokesperson to report back to the whole class. 1. The Court has now rewritten [Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964] itself. (The Wall Street Journal Edi- torial Board, June 15, 2020.) 2. The opinion in Bostock v. Clayton County fulfills the best promises of textualism. (Sarah Rice, assistant at- torney general for the state of Maryland, June 15, 2020.)

ID: 434. Added: 2013-03-06 22:15:27

Should Students Have the Right to Lead Prayers at Public School Events?
http://www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-action/bria-17-1-a-should-students-have-the-right-to-lead-prayers-at-public-school-events#.UVZdPhni5Z0

WEB LESSON In this lesson, provided by the Constitutional Rights Foundation, students look at the issue of student-led prayer. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that adults who lead religious exercise in the classroom or at school events violate the establishment clause of the First Amendment. But what if a student leads a prayer at a graduation or even a football game? MS-HS

ID: 497. Added: 2013-03-30 02:19:49

The Persecution of the Mormons
http://www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-action/bria-17-1-b-the-persecution-of-the-mormons#.UVZeLBni5Z0

WEB LESSON In this Constitutional Rights Foundation lesson students discuss the issue of religious liberty. During the 19th century, the newly formed Mormon religion encountered significant persecution, especially over the issue of polygamy. Republicans who labeled slavery and polygamy the "twin relics of barbarism," led Congress to outlaw multiple marriages in 1862. Brigham Young and other Mormon leaders were charged under this law. Students examine the case of Reynolds v. US to determine if they think the court made the correct decision. MS-HS

ID: 498. Added: 2013-03-30 02:28:44

Zelman v. Simmons-Harris
http://billofrightsinstitute.org/educate/educator-resources/lessons-plans/landmark-supreme-court-cases-elessons/zelman-v-simmons-harris-2002/

WEB LESSON This is a Bill of Rights Institute Establishment lesson. Many students across the country have begun work in schools their parents selected for them using vouchers. Does the First Amendment prohibit the government from giving parents public money to pay for tuition at private, religious schools? The Supreme Court ruled on the voucher issue in the 2002 case of Zelman v. Simmons-Harris. MS-HS

ID: 504. Added: 2013-03-31 00:07:10

Allegheny County v ACLU, 1989
http://billofrightsinstitute.org/educate/educator-resources/lessons-plans/landmark-supreme-court-cases-elessons/allegheny-county-v-aclu-1989/

WEB LESSON This Bill of Rights Institute lesson explores the Supreme Court's decision on the case of Allegheny County v. ACLU (1989). The Court held (5-4) that a creche with the words "Gloria in Excelsis Deo" (Glory to God in the highest) displayed on the grand staircase of the county courthouse violated the First Amendment's Establishment Clause. In the same case, six justices held that a joint Menorah-Christmas tree display outside the city-county building did not violate the Establishment Clause. MS-HS

ID: 598. Added: 2013-08-14 18:48:11

Locke v Davey (2004)
http://billofrightsinstitute.org/educate/educator-resources/lessons-plans/landmark-supreme-court-cases-elessons/locke-v-davey-2004/

WEB LESSON This Bill of Rights Institute lesson explores the religious liberty of a student to pursue a college degree in theology at public expense. In 2004 the Court ruled that states do not violate the Free Exercise Clause by denying state funds to college students pursuing degrees in theology. This would make a good moot court activity for the classroom. MS-HS

ID: 599. Added: 2013-08-14 18:57:52

Minersville School District v Gobitis (1940)
http://billofrightsinstitute.org/educate/educator-resources/lessons-plans/landmark-supreme-court-cases-elessons/minersville-school-district-v-gobitis-1940/

WEB LESSON Billy Gobitis had to choose between attending public school and exercising his religion. Billy was a ten-year-old elementary school student in 1935. When Billy and his sister refused to participate in their public school's required flag-salute ceremony, they were expelled. Explore the reasons that the Court gave for it's support of district policy in this case. MS-HS

ID: 600. Added: 2013-08-14 19:05:57

Religious Rights in Conflict
https://www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-action/bria-10-1-c-fear-religious-rights-in-conflict

WEB LESSON Many of the most important conflicts in our society are not between good and evil, but between two goods or two rights. In this Constitutional rights Foundation Chicago lesson, students analyze a case study involving a conflict between two rights education and religion.

ID: 685. Added: 2014-03-24 02:58:16

Vouchers, Tax Credits & Other Aid to Religious Schools
http://law2.umkc.edu/Faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/vouchers.htm

WEB ACTIVITY The issue: What limitations does the First Amendment place on government aid to religiously-affiliated schools? Student Review These Cases: Zelman v Simmons-Harris (2002) Arizona Christian School Tuition Org. v Winn (2011) Research & Discussion Questions: 1. Would a voucher program be constitutional in a district where there were no private, non-religious schools? What if 49 of the private schools in the jurisdiction were religious, and only one was not? 2. Would a voucher program be constitutional if lawmakers supporting the program argued, "This is a good way of getting more kids into schools with religious training, and that's a good thing"? 3. Would direct government aid to all private schools, as opposed to a voucher program, be likely to be upheld after Zelman? Why or why not? 4. Would a voucher program for private colleges be constitutional? Are there reasons for possibly treating a program that aids private college students differently than one that aids private elementary or secondary school students? 5. Should it be constitutional to exempt church property from the payment of real estate taxes, a common practice? Such exemptions were upheld by the Court in Walz v Tax Commission of New York (1970).

ID: 889. Added: 2018-06-23 11:52:28