Christian clubs thrive in South Florida public schools
After years of disputes and legal challenges, Christian clubs are thriving in South Florida public schools, where they hold Bible study groups and prayer meetings. A 1984 law, the Equal Access Act (EEA), requires that if schools allow any student-initiated club to meet when class isn't in session, they must open the door for all groups. The clubs must be voluntary, student-led, and follow district club rules. The EAA has become the legal key for religious clubs gaining access. One of the most prominent student religious clubs in Broward and Palm Beach counties is First Priority. Chris Lane, executive director of First Priority South Florida, says his organization has grown from just handful of chapters a decade ago to 80 chapters in Broward and Palm Beach middle and high schools. Mr. Lane points out that his organization takes pains to avoid conflict with the educational mission of schools. "'We know that school is a place where kids are getting educated, and that's a priority," he says. "We don't want to take away from that. We want to be a positive and encouraging group on the campus." Broward superintendent Frank Till applauds First Priority’s ability to balance church and state. "'They're a club that has really figured out how to survive and show that schools and churches can coexist when the rules are followed properly," he says. A spokesman for Miami-Dade schools says many other religious student organizations are on campus, including Jewish, Muslim and Christian groups.
Still, some parents have been taken aback by what seems to them an uncomfortably close link between school and religion, voicing concern that notices about religious clubs on school bulletin boards, public address systems, or official websites could be viewed as promotion by the school instead of straightforward information. However, the EAA requires all groups must have the same access to school media. "The rule of thumb on it is to treat all of the student-led, student-initiated clubs the same way: a level playing field,'' says Charles Haynes, senior scholar at the Freedom Forum's First Amendment Center. "If you allow the chess club to make its announcements in the morning, you can't say to the Bible club, ‘You can't make your announcements.’" "There's definitely the side that doesn't understand it, whether they're just uninformed or misinformed or they don't like it," adds Mr. Lane. "Sometimes that's an obstacle or a hurdle to overcome. That's where we come in to explain the law."
Miami Herald
By Hannah Sampson
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