Does God belong in public schools? / Kent Greenawalt.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Ch. 1. A brief history of American public schools and religion -- Ch. 2. Purposes of public school education -- Ch. 3. Devotional practices : prayer and Bible reading -- Ch. 4. Moments of silence -- Ch. 5. Teaching religious propositions -- Ch. 6. Equal facilities -- Ch. 7. Teaching and religion in the public school -- Ch. 8. Teaching natural science I : relation between science and religion -- Ch. 9. Teaching natural science II : evolutionism, creationism, and intelligent design -- Ch. 10. Teaching natural science III : what amounts to teaching religion? -- Ch. 11. History, economics, and literature -- Ch. 12. Morals, civics, and comparative religion -- Ch. 13. Constitutional constraints and other legal limits -- Ch. 14. Student rights to religious freedom and to free speech on religious topics -- Ch. 15. Excusing students when they or their parents object.

"In this book, one of America's leading constitutional scholars asks what role religion ought to play in public schools. Kent Greenawalt explores many of the most divisive issues in educational debate, including teaching about the origins of life, sex education, and when - or whether - students can opt out of school activities for religious reasons." "Using these and other case studies, Greenawalt considers how to balance the country's constitutional commitment to personal freedoms and to the separation of church and state with the vital role that religion has always played in American society."--BOOK JACKET.