Talent Shows
An in-school talent show, where students display their talents
to the rest of the school, is most definitely a non-curricular
event. Because the event is non-curricular and because the school
system allows students with a secular viewpoint to express themselves,
they must also allow students with a religious viewpoint the
same expression (within the guidelines of the talent show.) This
is the only way for the school system to remain neutral in the
area of religion.
A violation of church and state takes place when a government
entity endorses a specific religion, not when a student endorses
a specific religion. Furthermore, there is no question that the
talents being displayed are students’ and not the government’s.
The Supreme Court has been clear that in order for a school system
to remain neutral on the subject of religion it must not endorse
or discriminate against religious viewpoints.
Again, an in-school talent show that allows students to express
a secular viewpoint, must also allow students to express a religious
viewpoint within the guidelines of the talent show.
Yet, there have been cases where students have been disallowed
to perform religious material at student talent shows because
administrators feared “a violation of the separation of
church and state.” If you feel like your rights have been
violated in this context, then please click on the “take
action” button below and follow the instructions accordingly.
The content on this page has been reviewed by The Rutherford Institute.
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