The Changing Landscape of Religious Expression in US Public Schools

Brett A. Geier

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Year: 2025
• Print ISBN:
  9783032056153
• eBook ISBN:
  9783032056160
• Topic: Education
• Subtopic: Education General

This book explores the intersection of issues related to religion and state in public schools in the United States. Framed through a study of the landmark 2022 Supreme Court case Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, where a high school football coach's post-game prayers at midfield became the centerpiece of a major ruling on religious expression in public schools, the book analyzes how this case represents a significant shift in the Supreme Court's interpretation of the Establishment Clause, particularly under the Roberts Court, which has increasingly favored religious freedom claims over strict separation of church and state. Through eleven chapters, Geier explores the historical context of religion in American public schools, the rise and fall of the Lemon test, the influence of Christian Nationalism, and provides a detailed analysis of both the majority opinion written by Justice Gorsuch and the dissent by Justice Sotomayor. Drawing from his experience as a public school administrator and legal researcher, Geier argues that this ruling signals a new era where individual religious rights are being prioritized over Establishment Clause concerns in public schools, potentially leading to increased religious expression in educational settings.

Table of contents

• The Changing Landscape of Religious Expression in US Public Schools
• Acknowledgment
• Contents
• 1. Introduction
• 2. The Founders’ Intent: Tracing the Historical Roots of Church–State Separation in America
• 3. The Constitutional Tightrope: Balancing Free Exercise and Establishment in Public Schools
• 4. The Rise and Fall of the Lemon Test: A Turning Point in Establishment Clause Jurisprudence
• 5. The Evolution of Religion in Public Schools: From Precedent to Present-Day Legal Challenges
• 6. The Crossroads of Faith and Function: Examining Public School Employee Religious Expression
• 7. The Roberts Court’s Religious Liberty Revolution: Redefining Church–State Boundaries
• 8. Christian Nationalism’s Strategic Incursion into American Public Schools
• 9. The Gridiron Prayer Controversy: Coach Kennedy’s Legal Battle for Religious Expression in Public Schools
• 10. The Final Whistle on Lemon: Gorsuch’s Majority Opinion in Kennedy v. Bremerton School District
• 11. Clash of Perspectives: Justice Sotomayor’s Dissent and the Untold Story of Kennedy v. Bremerton
• 12. The Shifting Balance: How Kennedy v. Bremerton Signals a New Era for Religion in Public Schools
• Index1