Students’ Bill of Rights on a Public School Campus
by J.W. Brinkley
 1. THE RIGHT to Meet With Other Religious Students. The Equal Access Act allows students the freedom to meet on campus for the purpose of discussing religious issues.
2. THE RIGHT to Identify Your Religious Beliefs Through Signs and Symbols. Students are free to express their religious beliefs through signs and symbols.
3. THE RIGHT to Talk About Your Religious Beliefs on Campus. Freedom of speech is a fundamental right mandated in the Constitution and does not exclude the schoolyard.
4. THE RIGHT to Distribute Religious Literature on Campus. Distributing literature on campus may not be restricted simply because it’s religious.
5. THE RIGHT to Pray on Campus. Students may pray alone or with others so long as it does not disrupt school activities and is not forced on others.
6. THE RIGHT to Carry or Study Your Bible on Campus. The Supreme Court of the United States has said only that state-directed Bible reading is unconstitutional.
7. THE RIGHT to Do Research Papers, Speeches and Creative Projects With Religious
Themes. The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution does not forbid all mention of religion in public schools.
8. THE RIGHT to Be Exempt. Students may be exempt from activities and class content that contradict their religious beliefs.
9. THE RIGHT to Celebrate or Study Religious Holidays on Campus. Music, art, literature and drama that have religious themes are permitted as part of the curriculum for school activities if presented in an objective manner as a traditional part of the cultural and religious heritage of the particular holiday.
10. THE RIGHT to Meet with School Officials. The First Amendment forbids Congress to make any law that would restrict the right of the people to petition the government (school officials).
This information applies primarily to U.S. students and was excerpted from Students’ Legal Rights by J.W. Brinkley with K.C. Crump. Roever Communications. Used with permission.
This article appeared in Brio
magazine in October 2006. Copyright © 2006 Focus on the Family. All rights reserved. International copyright secured.
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