From school's website. http://ecreemsacademy.org/about.cfm :
E.C. Reems Academy is a public K 8, extended elementary charter school, located in East Oakland, California. .... We are a hybrid school, which is part of the public school system, and we operate as a private school. BBM UBM SBM
from linked nbcbayarea.com news article:
Most kids are Christian here, Blair said, and they believe that if you continue praying, theres always a possibility. The students understand the debate. Theyre just choosing spirituality over science. BBM
In the 1950's -1960's many public school students could opt out of participating in religious rituals at those schools, but the US SCOTUS ruled the 'option' violated Separation of Church & State clause of the US Const.
Can someone (in education or law?) explain this 'hybrid school' status?
And if separation clause applies to this school's cirriculum and activities?
Thx in adv.
ETA: Others beat me to the question about school status & religion, but I don't yet have a answer.
In the 60's and 70's a child could opt out of daily prayer or pledging alliegence to the flag of the United States of America. Lol, I remember pledging daily to the flag, and that didn't change until the very late '70's early '80's in my town.
Religions became a big reason to get out of class, to not do certain activities a child did not wish too, and families pushed it. In some cases rightfully so, in my case, I was smart enough to say I could not participate in gym class, change my clothes, or shower. I was not even a teen, I was a tween. I caught on. I hated gym, I worked it. My family was of no particular faith, and I used it anyway. I sucked, but I hated gym class.
However, prayers and pledging to the flag are now no longer allowed in schools today at all. Children just get some sort of mixed message, and this case exposes, again, an area that creates the new adults. More confused, more dogma, or lack of it.