Should writing a book report on the book of Acts in the Bible be ruled unconstitutional ?

Question

I live in KY, and a school wouldn't allow a book report to be read in class because it violates the separation of church and state. The student feels it is his freedom of speech.....any thoughts?

See http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070410/ZONE10/704100414

Answer 1

No. The first amendment says "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion nor prohiting the free exercise thereof..."
Congress is those two legislative bodies in Washington DC called the Senate and the House of Representatives. They aren't allowed to pass laws establishing a national religion nor laws prohibiting people from practicing their religion freely.
It says nothing about schools and students book reports.

The tenth amendment says, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution nor prohibited by it to the States are reserved to the States respectively or to the people."

This means if the Constitution doesn't give a power to the federal government, then that power is left to each individual state or to the people.

"Seperation of church and state" is not in the Constitution. I comes from a letter Thomas Jefferson wrote to a Baptist clergyman that was worried about which rights Baptist would have under the first amendment.
Thomas Jefferson basically said, don't worry, you're right to practice your Baptist faith is in no danger because there is a wall of "seperation" between "church and state."
The "seperation of church and state" line was about protecting religion from the government, not the otherway around.
The idea that the Constitution was written so non religious people wouldn't have to put up with religious people beliefs is absurd. In a country with freedom of expression everybody has to put up with hearing things that they don't like or don't agree with. Somebody might be offended by someone else doing a book report on "Don Quixote" or "To Kill A Mockingbird". The constitution does not grant us the right to not be offended.
So if a kid wants to do a book report on the book of Acts, there is absolutely nothing unconstitutional about it. The courts would agree.
If a teacher required kids to do a book report on the book of Acts, the current courts would likely say that's unconstitutional. I think whether that would be constitutional or not is debatable, because a teacher is not a federal legislator that can pass laws. To strictly follow the original intent of the constitution, I think it would be up to the state law, local law, or school board to determine.
Most issues are best solve at the local level.

Answer 2

Many people believe that the 'separation of church and state' is part of the constitution. It's not there.

The First Amendment prevents congress from making any law that would establish an 'official' state religion or preventing the people from practicing whatever religion they choose.

The first key question is: Is writing a book report on "The Acts of the Apostles" a form of 'free exercise' of your religion? The book, the subject of the report, is part of Christian fundamental history and doctrine. It is protected by the first amendment.

The second question: Can the report be read in class aloud to a 'captive' audience of students? A narrow-minded individual might view this as the school, which is an arm of the State of Kentucky, is advocating the 'establishment' of Christianity as a religion for the students under it's authority. It would be wise for the school (the State of Kentucky) to prohibit the reading aloud of the book report.

'Freedom of speech' would allow the author to read his report just about anywhere, except, where it could be interpreted as being advocated by the state.

Check out the discussion below . . .

Answer 3

Freedom of Speech does not exists in any school until you reach college. Most students are forbidden to wear clothing that endorses illegal activity or controled substances (alcohol, tobacco products, etc). Most students will earn a detention for using foul language.

The school board has strict policies reguarding religious materials in the classroom. That includes the student reading his book report of the Book Of Acts. Did the teacher grade the paper fairly and accept the subject matter of the report? Be thankful you got that much.

Answer 4

No more so than writing a book report on mythology like a Greek tragedy. Those involve spiritual and religious forces that are central to the plot as well, but if they're presented and discussed in a literary context or a historical exploration of ancient cultures and the literature they produced, then I don't see an issue with it.

Only if it's presented as fact or dogma in a public school is it unconstitutional.

Answer 5

I doubt it was a book report at all, since a book report needs to take a CRITICAL look at the source material. Merely praising God's word or restating Acts is NOT a book report.

Since school is about learning and about instilling critical thinking skills, that school made the right decision.

Answer 6

It is freedom of speech and it has historical and literary value.
Even if you don't believe in the Bible it has literary value that is necessary...separation between church and state is not violated....when the book report wasn't allowed was it because it wasn't the assigned project?

Answer 7

we could side step the issue if the report was supposed to be on a fictional work and he did not follow the rules of the assignment, but, if as you say they declare it a violation of seperation of such then they should be reminded that the child or the citizen is not the state and thus are free to take whatever positions they choose. I'm surprised they'd try that in kentucky of all places. Likewise i am free to be racist because i am not the state, you cannot fire me unless you are my boss nor arrest me. but my boss can fire me for being a racist, but the state can't unless i work for the state.

Answer 8

I agree with the school. The other students shouldn't have to feel preached at and have their own religions looked down on by someone who is promoting his own. And even if this student intended to be completely objective and totally sensitive to other religions, the school has no way of knowing or controlling that. They did the right thing by the constitution.

Answer 9

It would have to depend on the content of the book report. If it was a literary presentation of the book, it would certainly be allowable. But if his report was prostletyzing, and I could see how it likely would have been, it would certainly cross the line.

Answer 10

i guess so cuz we're not suposed to have religion in skool and w/e