Mass. bill resurrects debate on religion in school

Critics also argue it would open a backdoor for teaching creationism.

But the bill's sponsors say opponents are misreading the measure. They say it would simply ensure the existing free speech rights of religious students that are sometimes neglected at schools around the country.

"What we're trying to do with this bill is create an even playing field," said Evelyn Reilly of the Massachusetts Family Institute, which wrote the bill.

The bill has bipartisan backing and is pending before the Legislature's Joint Committee on Education.

The proposal requires school districts to create policies to allow "a limited public forum and voluntary student expression of religious views at school events, graduation ceremonies, and in class assignments, and non-curricular school groups and activities."

It also requires districts to provide a disclaimer that they don't endorse the students' views.

Ronal Madnick, president of the Massachusetts chapter of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, said the bill amounts to a mandate for schools to make time at various events for students to share their religion or proselytize. Students already have numerous opportunities to talk about their religion at school, such as during after-school prayer groups, he said. But it's wrong when they're addressing a "captive audience," such as at a graduation, he added.

"You can't do it where people have to be in attendance and they have to be exposed to prayers and beliefs they don't believe in," Madnick said.

Tufts University chemistry professor Samuel Kounaves, vice president of Madnick's group, said creationism could find its way into science classes because the bill will create uncertainty with teachers about how much to permit students to talk about creationism or hand out creationist materials during class.

"Things are confused right now as it is because a lot of teachers don't know how to handle the situation," he said. "My concern as a scientist is that science be taught in a science classroom. And I don't think introducing religious matter in a science classroom is appropriate."

Reilly said students already have the right to speak up about creationism during public school classes and the bill doesn't try to create any new rights.

The bill's chief sponsor, Rep. Viriato Manuel deMacedo, said the bill does not aim to set aside special time for students to speak about religion at various school events but emphasizes that they are protected by the law if they do.

"If that's a concern, we'll try to clarify that," said deMacedo, a Plymouth Republican.

DeMacedo said the bill is needed because past litigation over mixing religion and public education has made schools so jumpy about religious talk that free expression rights get squashed.

He cited various controversies over public displays of Christmas trees and a 2002 case in which Westfield high school students were suspended after passing out candy canes with a religious message. Reilly noted that in Las Vegas in 2006, a high school valedictorian's microphone was shut off when she referred to Jesus Christ during her address.

"It's becoming more and more prevalent that in schools there is no tolerance at all for any type of religious expression," deMacedo said. "If it has anything to do with religion, it's become taboo. And I don't think that that's generally the norm in society."

The state Department of Education said it was reviewing the bill and had no comment.