I pondered this awhile, and then recovered my frame of mind when I misspoke: The First Ammendment demands tolerance with repect to the government's view of the citizens. It can make no law FOR or AGAINST any religeon. So, the mandate of that ammendment is applied strictly to the government or any arm of the government. It follows, therefore, that public schools are not free to dictate matters or practices of relgeon. Naturally, citizens should be free to regard religeon as they please, even while at school.
Tolerance of the beliefs held by fellow citizens is merely good citizenship. It is certainly not mandated. What would be mandated is protection against practices by persons of any faith, or non-faith, upon anyone else. This includes mandates placed by athiests on those of faith and vice-versa.
GingisK, are you a teacher in a government school? Just curious.
If government schools were to allow free expression of religion then:
1) Chaos would reign.
2) There is a conflict with our First Amendment Right to free association, because there are lots of students who do not want to be subjected to people expressing their brand of religion. In all government schools it is the government who dictates with whom the student will or will not associate.
3) There would be a conflict with the First Amendment Right against the government establishing religion. The kids are in the build by government decree, and, if they refuse, they and/or their parents will be sent to prison. If they are in a government building they would unavoidably be subjected to the proselytizing of other students and ( possibly) teachers.
Can you see? Government schools and the First Amendment are incompatible. It is axiomatic.
What would be mandated is protection against practices by persons of any faith, or non-faith, upon anyone else
In the private, non-government world, people restrict free speech, free association, and free expression of religion all the time! For example, restaurants, private schools, barber shops, dental offices, Mc Donalds. This is entirely acceptable because people freely and privately agree to these restrictions.
The First Amendment exists to protect us from the **government**, not from each other in private and voluntary interactions.