Students have the right to form groups in their years as learners. Not only does this improve their leadership skills, their interaction skills and their abilities to indulge with each other at large, but it also helps maintain the student support system. These student-led groups are mostly curriculum based clubs, and this is whilst some are non-curriculum based organizations such as religious clubs.
All student-led religious groups do not have the absolute right to meet at k-12 schools. These schools are virtually public schools, attended by students who are in their last years before graduation into college. In line with this, the Equal Access Act only allows for student-led religious groups to be set up in public schools that receive total funding from federal financial assistance. The k-12 schools receive only 30% in terms of public funds as opposed to regular public schools, and this disqualifies them from holding such like meetings.
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With regards to the student-led religious groups under question, a teacher is not allowed any form of participation whatsoever in any of the groups’ activities. Nor is he or she allowed to be the groups’ sponsor. However, the teacher could monitor or supervise the activities of any of the members of the groups concerned as a way of ensuring that the group is not causing any destruction on the school property. School teachers merely act as servants to the state, and thusly, within the school environment, no teacher should jeopardize this position by involving himself/herself with student religious groups.
In accordance to the constitution, teachers should not participate in any of these groups as it is clear that federal state matters should be handled separately and not together with religion. The 1971 Lemon V. Kurtzman case well explains the fact that teachers should keep off from these groups to avoid favor and judgment. In spite of this, the constitution still allows teachers to have private religious activities in school lounges, even with other teachers.
The United States has over 2000 religions and allowing student-led religious groups in schools is not such a great idea. Students should be allowed to embrace their religion but not within the school setting, as this ultimately ensures that no group feels more superior or entitled than the other, usually because, high school students will not yet have matured enough, such as to understand topics of influence such like this.
