Abstract
ABSTRACTWhat legal and ethical issues arise when students choose to perform popular music with explicitly religious content? The purpose of this article is to construct a policy framework for discussing the use of popular religious music within the classroom, with a specific focus on the concept of proselytization as legal criteria for setting appropriate curricular boundaries. Three recent American federal court cases are examined: O.T. et al v. Frenchtown Elementary School District (465 F.Supp.2d 329, 2006); Golden v. Rossford Unified School District (445 F.Supp.2d 820, 2006); and DeNooyer v. Livonia Public Schools (799 F.Supp. 744, 1994). Conclusions suggest that when music teachers encourage student expression via the composition and performance of popular music, schools must balance students' rights to free expression with maintaining a viewpoint-neutral school environment. Criteria of particular importance in determining whether particular musical expressions are appropriate include the age of the students and the possible presence of a captive audience.
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