Religious Music, the Public Schools, and the Establishment Clause

Abstract

Various issues relating to education and religion continue to appear in federal court. One issue that is most relevant to music educators is the use of religious music in school music curriculum. Although no federal guidelines exist as to what is acceptable usage, a number of federal cases have addressed the various issues, from the use of religious music as a teacher tool to the performance of music in a religious setting, such as a church. This article seeks to inform readers of previous federal case decisions and provide some guidance for teachers in making music selections, based on those decisions and an analysis of current district policies.