U.S. Supreme Court Decisons

Public Schools May Be More Christian than Private Schools

Horace Mann League Annual Awards

How Another Profession Deals with Accountability

Summer Board Meeting Highlights

Frosty Troy Speaker at Annual Meeting

The Horace Mann print and book, the Art of Teaching

Officers and Directors of the Horace Mann League

Quotes of Horace Mann

Legal Issues

Following are cases that the HML has provided financial support in developing amicus briefs.

The Good News Club v. Milford Central School

Can public school districts prohibit outside groups from engaging in proselytizing activities and religious worship with elementary school students immediately after the last bell while on elementary school grounds?

No. By denying the club access to the school's limited public forum on the ground that the Club was religious in nature, Milford discriminated against the club because of its religious viewpoint in violation of the Free Speech Clause.

Eisenberg v. Montgomery County Public Schools.

Can a school district have a policy which denies student transfers if the transfer would compromise diversity or increase racial isolation in individual school buildings?

No. The U.S. Supreme Court found that district policy was used with an end toward maintaining a racial balance in each school and that non-remedial racial balancing was unconstitutional because it was not a narrowly tailored remedy.

Mitchell v. Helms

Can a school district provide instructional materials and equipment, including hardware to religious schools?

Yes. The U.S. Supreme Court determined that federal aid can be allocated to private or religious schools since it is on the basis of neutral, secular criteria that neither favor nor disfavor religion, and is made available to both religious and secular beneficiaries on a nondiscriminatory basis.

Chandler v. James

Is Alabama's statute permitting non-sectarian, non-proselytizing student-initiated prayer, invocations and benedictions during compulsory or non-compulsory school-related assemblies, sporting events, graduation ceremonies and other school-related events legal?

Yes. So long as school personnel do not participate in or actively supervise student-initiated speech, the school board cannot constitutionally prohibit students from speaking religiously .

Simmons-Harris v. Zelman

Is the Ohio legislature in violation of the Establishment Clause by providing payment of tuition at private religious elementary and middle schools?

No. The Ohio legislator can use of public funds since the funds go to the parents, not directly to the parochial or private school.

Grutter v. Bollinger

Does the University of Michigan's Law School consideration of race and ethnicity in its admissions decisions violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

No. The U. of Michigan Law School's narrowly tailored use of race in admissions decisions to further a compelling interest in obtaining the educational benefits that flow from a diverse student body is not prohibited by the Equal Protection Clause, Title VI, or §1981. Pp. 9-32.

Public Schools Maybe More Christian than Private Schools

by Charles A. Rohn

I recently visited an adult Sunday school class where the discussion turned to religion and the public schools. Among the statements I heard were these:

• Schools would not have discipline problems if prayer were allowed.
• A student cannot even say grace in the cafeteria.
• Students are not allowed to have a Bible study club at school.
• Students are not permitted to circle the flagpole for prayer.
• When I was a student, we were taught right and wrong. Today's students don't care about right or wrong .
• All of our troubles in public schools started when they kicked God out!

Many of those in the class had children in the public schools. They contended the faith they hold so dear could not be expressed in today's schools. They believed school staff may not carry their religious beliefs with them into the public schools. These parents, not unlike others, were wrong about the role of religious faith in the public schools.

Confusion Rules

Expression of religious beliefs in the public schools is a controversial issue. Numerous court cases have caused confusion concerning exactly what place religion has in our schools. School leaders must combine a general understanding of recent rulings with a large dose of common sense to avoid problems.

• Can students pray in school? The bumper sticker states "As Long as There Are Tests, There Will Be Prayer in Schools." Students can pray in public schools, either as individuals or in groups. They can pray before a test, lunch, a ballgame or before the start of classes. However, their prayers cannot be disruptive or infringe on others' rights. Long-established standards require that prayers be voluntary and that school employees not lead or publicly participate in the prayers
• Can a school activity be opened with prayer? Many schools traditionally have opened graduation ceremonies, athletic events and other activities with prayer led by a student or a local minister. Current legal standards no longer allow this type of prayer. Recent court cases have been numerous. (The U.S. Supreme Court ruled against an organized prayer by students at a school-sporting event.)

  What is clear is that school officials cannot organize, initiate or encourage public prayer. But for the moment, student-initiated, student-led prayer during a time of meditation or reflection is legal.

• Can teachers share their faith? The example that teachers set for their students speaks much louder than words. Because teachers have a captive audience, they are not allowed to proselytize or encourage students to accept specific religious beliefs. Children have an uncanny ability to clearly see what adults believe from their actions. A teacher who quietly exhibits religious beliefs in his or her daily life will provide a positive example for students.
• Can students hold a religious activity on school property?

  Many schools allow students to organize and meet for religious purposes on school property. This common activity is legal if done properly. The basic standards that must be met are that students must organize the activity, it must be voluntary and it cannot conflict with regular school activities. If the school has established a limited open forum by allowing the scouts, chess club or other non-academic organizations to meet on school property, the Bible club also must be allowed to meet. Students across the country are meeting at their school to study the Bible and even to pray at the flagpole.

• Can students read the Bible in public schools? Students do not leave their rights at the schoolhouse door. A student has a right to privately read materials but does not have the right to coerce other students to read or listen. Recent rulings have been conflicting, but student rights to select religious materials have been supported.
• Can clergy be allowed on school property? Many clergy are involved with community activities that take place outside their churches. Many volunteer by reading to elementary students, supervising high school dances, tutoring students, coaching sports and serving on committees. Clergy have been called upon to be counselors to schoolchildren during a crisis situation.

In these roles do not proselytize or verbalize their faith, they share their faith by living it. The clergy, as all other adults, can share their faith with youth both in and out of public schools primarily by living those beliefs.

The basic question posed in this article has been "must public schools be ungodly places?" The answer: an emphatic no.

Religious beliefs play an important part in the education of our children. Our laws and court cases have placed limitations on our expression of our beliefs including our religious beliefs. However, religion and God can still be a part of raising our children and having them attend public schools.

The dramatic court cases, the outlandish situations and the major tragedies grab the focus of our news media and often make us believe the worst about our society and its youth. A community's religious beliefs can and should be a part of the education of our children. As long as our educational leaders and teachers understand current standards and use common sense, there is no problem with the values of the community being expressed in public schools.

Charles Rohn, a former superintendent in Illinois, and is currently Dean of the College of Education at Eastern Illinois University. This article appeared first in AASA's June 2000, issue of The School Administrator

Horace Mann League Annual Awards

Annually, the Horace Mann League presents three major awards. Recipients are nominated by members and selected by the Board of Directors.

The Outstanding Friend of Public Education Award is presented to an individual or organization that has made a significant contribution to the improvement of public education at the state or national level.

The Outstanding Public Educator Award is presented to a public educator who has made a significant contribution to the improvement of public education at the state or national level.

The Ambassador Award is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the strengthening of the Horace Mann League. This award is usually presented to an individuals who has recruited ten or more new Horace Mann League.

Awards are presented to recipients at the annual meeting, held in conjunction with the AASA National meeting.

Past recipients of the Horace Mann League awards can be found on the League's website at: www.hmleague.org

Highlights of the Summer '03 HML Board meeting, held in Omaha, NE, on June 28-29, were:

1. Assigned board members to establish links with foundations, media, and other organizations committed to improving public education.
2. Reviewed past activities and future legal issues that could be of interest to the HML. (See article on legal issues).
3. Assigned board members to states for recruitment purposes.
4. Reviewed the updated HML website.
5. Reviewed progress on the future publication of “Successes in Public Schools.”
6. Established a committee to advise the HML Board on future relations with corporations and foundations.
7. Approved the nomination of new officers and directors, to be presented at the Annual meeting in February: VP-Walt Warfield.
8. Approved the increase in dues from $40 to $50 to support additional activities related to promoting public education.
9. Proposed to enlarge the HML Board from 16 to 20 members to include representatives of foundations and corporations.

Next HML Board Meeting:

Friday, February 20, 2004, 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Marriott Hotel, San Francisco

Horace Mann Reports

Horace Mann wrote twelve Annual Reports about his views of public education while Secretary of the State Board of Education for Massachusetts.

Some important Annual Reports;

Fifth Annual Report (1841). Mann argued successfully that economic wealth would increase through an educated public. It was therefore in the self interest of business to pay the taxation for public education.

Seventh Annual Report (1843). Horace Mann inspected and appraised favorably the Prussian school system. This report led to widespread improvement .of education through the educational theories of Pestalozzi, Herbart and eventually Froebel.

Tenth Annual Report (1846). Mann asserted that education was a natural right for every child. It is a necessary responsibility of the state to insure that education was provided for every child. This report led to the adoption of the first state law requiring compulsory attendance in school in 1852.

Twelfth Annual Report (1848). He presented a rationale for the support of public education through taxation. Society improves as a result of an educated public. He argued for non-sectarian schools, so the taxpayer would not be in the position of supporting any established religion with which he might disagree in conscience.

Horace Mann League Annual Meeting

The Annual Meeting of the Horace Mann League will be held in conjunction with AASA in San Francisco, on Saturday, February 21, 2004, in the Marriott Hotel.

Frosty Troy, owner and publisher of the Oklahoma Observer and nationally recognized speaker on public education will be the guest speaker and recipient of the Horace Mann League's “Friend of Public Education Award,” given annual to an individual who has made a significant contribution to public education.

Other activities at the Annual Meeting will be the presentation of the “Ambassador Award” to individual members who have strengthen the League and the “Outstanding Educator Award,” presented to an educator who has made a significant contribution to improvement of public education.

Election of new officers and directors will also be conducted. More information on the Annual meeting and luncheon reservation forms will be mailed in December.

The Horace Mann Print and book, The Art of Teaching

Prints of the “The Greatest Discovery” celebrating Horace Mann's contribution to public education can be purchased from the Horace Mann League.

It is the goal of the HML to have the print in every public school, college of education, and state department of education in the United States.

The framed print makes an ideal gift to present to retiring school board members. Some members have presented the print to local business who are supporting public education.

You can help the HML reach the goal by purchasing and contributing the print to a public school, a community organization or company that supports public education.

The book, The Art of Teaching by Horace Mann, is an excellent gift or token of appreciation for educators. Although written in the mid 1800s, the words of wisdom are still relevant to today's classrooms.

The Art of Teaching can be obtained through the Horace Mann League by completing the order from below.

Order Form for the Horace Mann print and/or the Art of Teaching.

Quantity of prints _____ @ $20 _____________

Quantity of the book, The Art of Teaching: Books ______ @ $10 _____

Name: ______________________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________________

City: ____________________ State _____ Zip ____________________

Phone: (_____ ) ________ _______________

Amount Enclosed ____________________

Payment by Credit Card: Visa, MC, Amer. Express
Card number __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

Exp. Date: _______________________

Make check payable to: The Horace Mann League
61D North Chandler Ct.
Port Ludlow, WA 98365

FAX (360) 437 1186

My dentist is great! He sends me reminders so I don't forget checkups. He uses the latest techniques based on research. He never hurts me, and I have all my teeth, so when I ran into him the other day, I was eager to see if he'd heard about the new state program for measuring the effectiveness of dentists. I knew he'd think it was great.

"Did you hear about the new state program to measure the effectiveness of dentists with their young patients?" I said.

"No," he said. He didn't seem too thrilled. "How will they do that?"

"It's quite simple," I said. "They will just count the number of cavities each patient has at age 10,14, and 18 and average that to determine a dentist's rating. Dentists will be rated as Excellent, Good, Average, Below Average, and Unsatisfactory. That way parents will know which are the best dentists. It will also encourage the less effective dentists to get better," I said. "Poor dentists who don't improve could lose their licenses to practice."

"That's terrible!" he said.

"What? That's not a good attitude," I said. "Don't you think we should try to improve children's dental health in this state?"

"Sure I do," he said, "but that's not a fair way to determine who is practicing good dentistry."

"Why not?" I said. "It makes perfect sense to me."

"Well, it's so obvious," he said. "Don't you see that dentists don't all work with the same clientele; so much depends on things we can't control? For example," he said,

"I work in a rural area with a high percentage of patients from deprived homes, while some of my colleagues work in upper-middle-class neighborhoods. Many of the parents I work with don't bring their children to see me until there is some kind of problem and I don't get to do much preventative work. "Also," he said, "many of the parents I serve let their kids eat way too much candy from a young age, unlike more educated parents who understand the relationship between sugar and decay. "

"To top it all off," he added, "so many of my clients have well water which is untreated and has no fluoride in it. Do you have any idea how much difference early use of fluoride can make?"

"It sounds like you're making excuses," I said. I couldn't believe my dentist would be so defensive. He does a great job.

"I am not!" he said. "My best patients are as good as anyone's, my work is as good as anyone's, but my average cavity count is going to be higher than a lot of other dentists because I chose to work where I am needed most."

"Don't get touchy," I said.

"Touchy?" he said. His face had turned red, and from the way he was clenching and unclenching his jaws, I was afraid he was going to damage his teeth.

"Try furious. In a system like this, I will end up being rated average, below average or worse. My more educated patients who see these ratings may believe this so-called rating actually is a measure of my ability and proficiency as a dentist. They may leave me, and I'll be left with only the neediest patients, and my cavity average score will get even worse. On top of that, how will I attract good dental hygienists and other excellent dentists to my practice if it is labeled below average?"

"I think you're overreacting," I said. "Complaining, excuse making, and stonewalling won't improve dental health. I am quoting that from a leading member of the DOC," I noted.

"What's the DOC?" he said.

"It's the Dental Oversight Committee," I said, " a group made up of mostly lay persons to make sure dentistry in this state gets improved."

"Spare me," he said. "I can't believe this. Reasonable people won't buy it," he said hopefully.

The program sounded reasonable to me, so I asked, "How else would you measure good dentistry?"

"Come watch me work," he said. "Observe my processes."

Author Mr. John Tayor, Superintendent, Lancaster Schools, Lancaster, South Carolina

Officers and Directors of the Horace Mann League

Officers:
President: Larry Dlugosh (NE)
President-elect: John Simpson (VA)
Vice Pres.: Spike Jorgensen (AK)
Past President: Art Stellar (MI)

Directors:
James Anderson (NM),
Cryss Brunner (MN),
Richard Christie (IA),
George Garcia (CO),
Mark Edwards (VA),
Fred Hartmeister (TX),
Vern Moore (MO),
Douglas Otto (TX),
Susan Purser (MS),
Steve Rasmussen (WA),
Walter Warfield (IL), and
Colleen Wilcox (CA)

Executive Dir: Jack McKay (WA)

Quotes of Horace Mann

A republic cannot long remain ignorant and free, hence the necessity for universal pubic education.

Such education must be paid for, controlled and sustained by an interested public.

Such education is best provided in schools embracing children of all religious, social and ethnic backgrounds.

Such education, while profoundly moral in character, must be free of sectarian religious influence.

Such education must be permeated throughout by the spirit, methods, and discipline of a free society; and

Such education can be provided only by well trained teachers.

Horace Mann