Charles Haynes columns
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Instilling moral character more effective than installing Internet filters
By Charles Haynes Students logging onto school computers after spring break may find a lot less traffic on the information highway.
04.15.01
First Amendment protects student 'God-talk' in public schools
By Charles Haynes What is it about student religious speech that causes some school officials to react with fear and trembling?
04.01.01
Ignorance, fear unfairly stigmatize American Muslims
By Charles Haynes The rapid growth of Islam in the United States in recent years has been accompanied by an escalation of hate and prejudice directed toward Muslims.
03.25.01
'First Amendment Schools' project links freedom with responsibility
By Charles Haynes The tragedy at Santana High School has sparked yet another national debate about how to ensure "safe schools."
03.18.01
Suppression of student speech won't fix school problems
By Charles Haynes When a kid is mocked or called names in school, something must be done about it. No one should have to suffer daily humiliation and ridicule as the price of an education.
03.11.01
Government can't censor Eminem, but citizens can
By Charles Haynes Winning three Grammys in one night is no small achievement. But controversial rapper Eminem has accomplished something even more astonishing this year.
03.04.01
Successful partnerships with faith-based groups focus on secular activities
By Charles Haynes Advocates of more partnerships between faith communities and public schools got a big boost earlier this month when President Bush directed the secretary of education to set up a new center for faith-based initiatives.
02.25.01
Public-school-sponsored baccalaureate service poses problem
By Charles Haynes Under current court rulings, school sponsorship of religious service at graduation is unconstitutional.
02.18.01
Public prayers on state occasions need not be divisive or generic
By Charles Haynes Debate over prayers offered at President Bush’s inauguration is yet another reminder of just how diverse and contentious America has become in the 21st century.
02.11.01
Federal funding for faith-based programs requires careful implementation
By Charles Haynes President Bush's ambitious plan to expand federal aid to faith-based programs appears to be gaining broad support across religious and political lines.
02.04.01
Forcing students to recite the pledge won't ensure patriotism
By Charles Haynes Age-old fight over how best to inspire patriotism in students has been re-ignited in Virginia this week by the introduction of a bill requiring daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools.
01.28.01
First court victory signals limitations on church zoning restrictions
By Charles Haynes Few Americans noticed when the awkwardly named Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) was signed into law last fall.
01.21.01
Poll shows Americans value the right of religious liberty
By Charles Haynes According to a poll released this week, the vast majority of Americans greatly appreciate the religious freedom and diversity of our nation, even though they don't know much about religions other than their own.
01.14.01
President-elect Bush likely to support character education, student prayer
By Charles Haynes When George W. Bush takes office this month, education reform will be at the top of the agenda.
01.07.01
Effectiveness of school vouchers still in question
By Charles Haynes On church-state issues, George W. Bush's honeymoon period may be over before it starts.
12.31.00
Expanded 'charitable choice' programs will require additional safeguards
By Charles Haynes In keeping with the season, a wave of holiday cheer has hit the nation's capital this week.
12.24.00
Religious liberty gains ground in year 2000
By Charles Haynes By any measure, the first year of the new century was a banner year for advocates of religious liberty in public education.
12.17.00
December's search for common ground begins on the public square
By Charles Haynes Some Americans have a strange way of celebrating the season of peace and good will.
12.10.00
Americans must uphold freedom of conscience for all
By Charles Haynes The world had just begun to absorb the unspeakable horrors of the Holocaust when the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on Dec. 10, 1948.
12.03.00
New report suggests that teaching about religion is here to stay
By Charles Haynes Religion may finally be going back to school as a topic for study.
11.26.00
Some state lawmakers actively seeking common ground
By Charles Haynes After the rancor and division of the presidential race, I might not have chosen to spend an entire morning with a roomful of politicians.
11.19.00
Virginia student takes stand against silence
By Charles Haynes When his teacher calls for a moment of silence every morning, Jordan Kupersmith gets up and leaves the room.
11.12.00
Supreme Court to get Good News
By Charles Haynes The Good News Club is going to the Supreme Court. And the outcome could have far-reaching implications for how we apply the First Amendment in public schools.
11.05.00
Schools must model democracy to teach it effectively
By Charles Haynes Here's a frightening thought: The schools where we educate for democratic citizenship are often among the least democratic places in our society.
10.29.00
Award-winning Schools of Character showcase character-education successes
By Charles Haynes Character education is moving to the top of the school reform agenda.
10.23.00
Halloween activities in schools can be divisive
By Charles Haynes Many school administrators are caught in the crossfire between parents who support and parents who oppose Halloween observances in the classroom.
10.15.00
Students' religious expression has rightful place in public schools
By Charles Haynes Does the First Amendment ban any mention of Jesus in elementary public schools?
10.08.00
Public overlooking important implications of recent religious-protection act
By Charles Haynes Shouting matches and lawsuits over “school prayer,” holiday displays, vouchers and other church-state issues may grab the headlines.
10.01.00
Voters favor equal treatment for religious charities addressing social needs
By Charles Haynes Religion is the hot topic of campaign 2000. There's plenty of God-talk on the campaign trail, especially from the first Jewish candidate on a major party ticket.
09.24.00
Split decision over Bible story begs high court involvement
By Charles Haynes Did a first-grade teacher violate Zachary Hood's rights when she barred him from reading a story from the Beginner's Bible?
09.17.00
Increasing religious diversity will test commitment to first principles
By Charles Haynes When religion makes headlines in America, it's often bad news.
09.10.00
Conflicts will continue until educators take religion seriously
By Charles Haynes Despite a host of new guidelines and court decisions, the new school year in many communities will be filled with old conflicts about religion.
09.03.00
Lieberman candidacy moves nation closer to religious-liberty ideals
By Charles Haynes Whoever wins in November, just having Joseph Lieberman’s name on the ballot greatly advances the cause of religious liberty in America.
08.27.00
Youth organization finds way to share faith without alienating
others
By Charles Haynes At a time when proselytizing often triggers conflict and confusion, a
new policy by an evangelical Christian youth organization offers a model of how
to share one’s faith with sensitivity and respect.
08.21.00
Book controversies in schools defy easy answers
By Charles Haynes Last week, I told you about efforts to ban Harry Potter books from public schools. Not only does Harry top the bestseller lists, he's also the number-one target for removal from classrooms and libraries.
08.13.00
Defusing the debate over 'Harry Potter'
By Charles Haynes Unless you live on a remote desert island, by now you know that Harry Potter has worked his magic on millions of children and on a surprising number of adults as well.
08.06.00
Defusing the debate over 'Harry Potter'
By Charles Haynes Unless you live on a remote desert island, by now you know that Harry Potter has worked his magic on millions of children and on a surprising number of adults as well.
08.06.00
Classroom veterans dispel myths surrounding public-school Bible courses
By Charles Haynes Mention teaching about the Bible in public schools, and voices from the left and the right will argue that it shouldn't be done.
07.30.00
New bill to expand freedom of worship has broad backing
By Charles Haynes Although it hasn't made the headlines, a new bill introduced in Congress this week could have far-reaching implications for religious freedom in America.
07.23.00
Students should be free to choose when it comes to matters of faith
By Charles Haynes Current fights over efforts in Colorado and Georgia to post the motto "In God We Trust" in public-school classrooms are the latest chapters in a long history of conflict over the place of religion in American public life.
07.16.00
Court's ruling will add fuel to voucher debate
By Charles Haynes The Supreme Court poked a big hole in Mr. Jefferson's "wall of separation" last week when it ruled that federal dollars may be used to buy computers and other instructional materials for religious schools.
07.09.00
Religious liberty part of America's revolution
By Charles Haynes What are the fireworks all about? Or, to put it another way, what's the real meaning of the American Revolution?
07.02.00
Court upholds 2 principles in prayer ruling
By Charles Haynes Here we go again. Last Monday's Supreme Court ruling on prayer at high school football games is sure to renew charges and counter-charges about God being "kicked out" of public schools.
06.25.00
Schools made strides, missteps on religion
By Charles Haynes The 1999-2000 school year will be remembered as the best of times and worst of times for religious liberty in public schools.
06.18.00
Upholding the First Amendment ensures genuine religious freedom
By Charles Haynes Students have the right to express their faith during the school day. But that isn't a license to turn public schools into places of worship.
06.11.00
Prison guards' long hair, beards show religious liberty alive, well
By Charles Haynes By winning the right to wear long hair and beards, prison guards in two states have demonstrated that religious freedom is alive and well in America.
06.04.00
Lawsuits over religion waste school funds
By Charles Haynes The school year ends, but the litigation goes on and on. Expensive, divisive lawsuits over religion will keep some school officials off the beach this summer and in the courtroom.
05.28.00
School guest speakers on religion should know ground rules
By Charles Haynes Public educators have debated for decades whether or not to encourage teaching about religion. Not any more.
05.21.00
Media putting more emphasis on religion
By Charles Haynes Our nation enters the 21st century as the most religiously diverse place on earth and, among developed nations, the most religious. In America, religion matters.
05.14.00
Constitution protects, restricts charter schools
By Charles Haynes When the nation's first charter school opened its doors in St. Paul, Minn., seven years ago, some critics called it a passing fad doomed to fail.
05.07.00
Page last updated: 5/2/2013 12:32:12 PM
