Michael D. Waggoner is professor of education at the University of Northern Iowa and Editor of the journal, Religion & Education. His previous book Sacred and Secular Tensions in Higher Education: Connecting Parallel Universities was published in 2011.

This collection of ten essays covers a range of topics dealing with the history, issues, and problems associated with teaching religion in public elementary and secondary schools. The essays are divided between two sections. The first part, "Challenges to Free Expression," has four essays dealing with the more theoretical issues surrounding the topic. The second part, "Selected Approaches to Religion in Public Schools," deals with issues and programs that seek to find workable solutions to what can be daunting legal matters and volatile political issues. This balance of theoretical challenges and timely practical approaches is one of the volume's major contributions. While not shirking the difficulties of this tricky educational terrain, the book as a whole makes a compelling case for the need to address religion and religious issues as a part of the education of American students. Religion in the Public Schools should be of interest to professors of education, teachers, and school board members. Summing Up: Recommended. Research and professional collections.

• PrefaceIntroductionI. Challenges of Free Expression1. Negotiating the New Commons in Religion and EducationMichael D. Waggoner2. Tolerance, Civility, and Cognitive DevelopmentAndrew Fiala3. Prayer and Student-Initiated Religious Activities in Public SchoolsCharles J. Russo4. The Day of Truth and the Golden Rule Pledge: Public Discourse, Religious Belief, and Mutual RespectBrendan RandallII. Selected Approaches to Religion in the Schools5. Released Time Programs in Religion EducationJames Swezey and Katherine Schultz6. Promoting Civic and Religious Literacy in Public Schools: The California 3 Rs ProjectBruce Grelle7. To Change Society or Reflect It? Comparing the Cultural Studies and Community Consensus Approaches to Teaching About ReligionEmile Lester8. Religion Knows No Boundaries: The Face-to-Faith Initiative of the Tony Blair FoundationJanet E. Bordelon9. An Emerging ‘Middle Way’ in Public and Private Education?Bruce Cooper and Arthur Plaza10. Integrating Religion into Teacher EducationKimberly WhiteAfterwordMichael D. WaggonerAcknowledgmentsContributorsIndex

Michael D. Waggoner is professor of education at the University of Northern Iowa and Editor of the journal, Religion & Education. His previous book Sacred and Secular Tensions in Higher Education: Connecting Parallel Universities was published in 2011.

This collection of ten essays covers a range of topics dealing with the history, issues, and problems associated with teaching religion in public elementary and secondary schools. The essays are divided between two sections. The first part, "Challenges to Free Expression," has four essays dealing with the more theoretical issues surrounding the topic. The second part, "Selected Approaches to Religion in Public Schools," deals with issues and programs that seek to find workable solutions to what can be daunting legal matters and volatile political issues. This balance of theoretical challenges and timely practical approaches is one of the volume's major contributions. While not shirking the difficulties of this tricky educational terrain, the book as a whole makes a compelling case for the need to address religion and religious issues as a part of the education of American students. Religion in the Public Schools should be of interest to professors of education, teachers, and school board members. Summing Up: Recommended. Research and professional collections.

• PrefaceIntroductionI. Challenges of Free Expression1. Negotiating the New Commons in Religion and EducationMichael D. Waggoner2. Tolerance, Civility, and Cognitive DevelopmentAndrew Fiala3. Prayer and Student-Initiated Religious Activities in Public SchoolsCharles J. Russo4. The Day of Truth and the Golden Rule Pledge: Public Discourse, Religious Belief, and Mutual RespectBrendan RandallII. Selected Approaches to Religion in the Schools5. Released Time Programs in Religion EducationJames Swezey and Katherine Schultz6. Promoting Civic and Religious Literacy in Public Schools: The California 3 Rs ProjectBruce Grelle7. To Change Society or Reflect It? Comparing the Cultural Studies and Community Consensus Approaches to Teaching About ReligionEmile Lester8. Religion Knows No Boundaries: The Face-to-Faith Initiative of the Tony Blair FoundationJanet E. Bordelon9. An Emerging ‘Middle Way’ in Public and Private Education?Bruce Cooper and Arthur Plaza10. Integrating Religion into Teacher EducationKimberly WhiteAfterwordMichael D. WaggonerAcknowledgmentsContributorsIndex

Michael D. Waggoner is professor of education at the University of Northern Iowa and Editor of the journal, Religion & Education. His previous book Sacred and Secular Tensions in Higher Education: Connecting Parallel Universities was published in 2011.

This collection of ten essays covers a range of topics dealing with the history, issues, and problems associated with teaching religion in public elementary and secondary schools. The essays are divided between two sections. The first part, "Challenges to Free Expression," has four essays dealing with the more theoretical issues surrounding the topic. The second part, "Selected Approaches to Religion in Public Schools," deals with issues and programs that seek to find workable solutions to what can be daunting legal matters and volatile political issues. This balance of theoretical challenges and timely practical approaches is one of the volume's major contributions. While not shirking the difficulties of this tricky educational terrain, the book as a whole makes a compelling case for the need to address religion and religious issues as a part of the education of American students. Religion in the Public Schools should be of interest to professors of education, teachers, and school board members. Summing Up: Recommended. Research and professional collections.

• PrefaceIntroductionI. Challenges of Free Expression1. Negotiating the New Commons in Religion and EducationMichael D. Waggoner2. Tolerance, Civility, and Cognitive DevelopmentAndrew Fiala3. Prayer and Student-Initiated Religious Activities in Public SchoolsCharles J. Russo4. The Day of Truth and the Golden Rule Pledge: Public Discourse, Religious Belief, and Mutual RespectBrendan RandallII. Selected Approaches to Religion in the Schools5. Released Time Programs in Religion EducationJames Swezey and Katherine Schultz6. Promoting Civic and Religious Literacy in Public Schools: The California 3 Rs ProjectBruce Grelle7. To Change Society or Reflect It? Comparing the Cultural Studies and Community Consensus Approaches to Teaching About ReligionEmile Lester8. Religion Knows No Boundaries: The Face-to-Faith Initiative of the Tony Blair FoundationJanet E. Bordelon9. An Emerging ‘Middle Way’ in Public and Private Education?Bruce Cooper and Arthur Plaza10. Integrating Religion into Teacher EducationKimberly WhiteAfterwordMichael D. WaggonerAcknowledgmentsContributorsIndex