EP 813 Some Red States Putting Religion Back in Schools

But isn’t that unconstitutional?  That was the basis of my line of inquiry on this podcast with esteemed professor, Ira Lupu, George Washington Law Professor Emeritus and a nationally recognized scholar in constitutional law with an emphasis on the religion clauses of the 1st Amendment.  Legal or not, Oklahoma’s superintendent of schools, Ryan Walters, has ordered public schools in the state to teach the Bible and wants funding for a controversial religious charter school, though the state’s Supreme Court has struck that down.  Louisiana leaders directed schools to display The Ten Commandments and Texas leaders proposed a curriculum that incorporates biblical lessons.  In these red states, where there are large evangelical Christian residents, infusing Bible teachings into the curriculum is gaining traction.  There is a growing belief that the U.S. Supreme Court is now more predisposed than in any other era to uphold such mandates requiring religious education if a suit comes before it.  Professor Lupu is a pre-eminent thinker in this aspect of law and is wonderful to listen to.  He discusses this topic in nuanced ways that you’ve likely  never heard before.

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