THE CURRENT CONSTITUTIONAL DEBATE CONCERNING THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE AS MANIFESTED IN RELIGIOUSLY BASED CHALLENGES TO THE PUBLIC SCHOOL CURRICULUM.

摘要

The purpose of this study was to examine the current debate concerning separation of church and state as manifested in religiously based challenges to the public school curriculum. There are two clauses in the First Amendment regarding separation of church and state. It was determined that the establishment clause controls the free exercise clause. Therefore, this paper concentrated on challenges which involved the establishment clause. This study concentrated on three major issues in the current debate: the creationist-evolutionist controversy, the secular humanism issue, and the issue of moral values and education. These issues were studied to determine if public schools have remained neutral with regard to religion.;The study first attempted to set the context in which each of these issues is being debated. Second, each side in the debate was described, and then conclusions were drawn. In order to set the context for the current debate, the historical development of the principle of separation of church and state was studied. In this part of the study, the philosophical and political antecedents of the principle, the articulation of the principle, and, finally, the application of the principle through the courts were examined.;With regard to the Creationist-Evolutionist debate, this study concluded that it is occurring on two levels. The first level was described as the legal-institutional level and on this level it was concluded that the schools have officially remained neutral toward religion. On the second level, the religious-cultural level, the study concluded that within a society such as this such debate is the basic dynamic and is a sign of health and vitality.;The study of the secular-humanist controversy examined extremes on either side of the question and mediating positions. It was concluded that while there are dangers on either side of this question, most educators have maintained neutrality on this point and probably consider themselves both religious and humanistic.;The study of the debate over moral values education concluded that the educational process is a value-laden one and has always been so. The current debate is the continuation of a search for which values will be transmitted to the next generation. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.).