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Religious freedom, the freedom of conscience, is a core ideal of American democracy. The United States is, arguably, the most religiously diverse society in the world and, among developed nations, one of the most religious. Religious freedom is the first freedom listed in our nation's Bill of Rights. This liberty is a fundamental right that every individual possesses, including students in public schools. Because of this, religious liberty in the school deserves particular study by high-school students and their teachers.
The First Amendment begins with the words:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof... "
These words guarantee the right to profess and practice any faith or none, and to assert these beliefs within the bounds of the law. The First Amendment also prevents the government from coercing individuals in matters of religion. The national commitment to inalienable individual rights is set forth in the Declaration of Independence. Religious freedom is one such inalienable right, and it is a central aspect of individual identity.
The classroom is one of the most critical places where religious freedom can be both taught and lived. This video and guide have been designed to assist you in your First Amendment studies. The video and guide may be used anytime during the school year in social studies classes and other courses of study, by high-school debate and forensics teams, and as a general information resource. You may also find it useful for National Constitution Day classes (September 17). The purpose of these materials is to help you, the teacher, find a way to both implement and teach this first freedom in your classroom today, as you educate young people to become the citizens of tomorrow.
Beyond the classroom, the courtroom is another critical place where religious liberty issues are laid out and decided. In this video, we attempt to bring these two arenas together by sharing with you the differing legal perspectives of two of the country's foremost authorities on religious freedom.
This section includes:
- A 22-minute-long video
- Background information
- Primary document analysis
- Answers to frequently asked questions
- Lesson ideas and class exercises
- Debate/forensics team topic
These materials will open the door for you and your students to grapple with and learn about one of the core values that underlies the Constitution. You will find its content balanced, and sometimes surprising.
 Next Section - BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT
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