Robert S. Michaelsen

Common School, Common Religion? A Case Study in Church-State Relations, Cincinnati, 1869–70

The history of the public school affords one significant means of discerning the pattern of evolving church-state relations in the United States. This is true because there have been frequent overlappings of the institutions of the church and the state in the public schools. However, the story deals with more than institutional encounter. The first amendment to the Constitution of the United States does not refer to church and state; it speaks of “an establishment of religion“ and of “the free exercise thereof.” In recent years it has become quite clear that under this language the public schools are on shaky grounds constitutionally whenever they engage in any activity of a religious nature. But the public school has always been looked to as the primary institution for instilling what is common and public in national life and thought—the shared memories and aspirations, loyalties and beliefs. Hence the public school has been confronted with the difficult responsibility of passing on the common traditions and even instilling “a common faith” (Dewey), while not engaging in “an establishment of religion.”

BEYOND THE GROUND RULES: NEXT STEPS IN THE STUDY OF RELIGION IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Prior to the Convention of the Religious Education Association, there was a meeting of the National Council on Religion and Public Education. This concluding address was given at a luncheon meeting on November 19 at the Palmer House