United States Court of Appeals-8th Circuit (1980) in the case of Florey v. Sioux Falls School District, 619 F. 2d 1311, 1314, 1315-1316, 1317 (8th Cir. 1980), stated that the performance and study of religious songs, inclusive of Christmas carols, is constitutional, provided the purpose is the:
<Advancement of the students' knowledge of society's cultural and religious heritage, as well as the provision of an opportunity for students to perform a full range of music, poetry, and drama that is likely to be of interest to the students and their audience.
Advanc[ing] the student's knowledge and appreciation of the role that our religious heritage has played in the social, cultural and historical development of civilization.
It would be literally impossible to develop a public school curriculum that did not in some way affect the religious or nonreligious sensibilities of some of the students or their parents.
The study of religion is not forbidden "when presented objectively as a part of a secular program of education"....We view the term "study" to include more than mere classroom instruction; public performance may be a legitimate part of secular study....As the district noted in its discussion of Rule 3, "To allow
students only to study and not perform [religious art, music and literature when] such works...have developed an independent secular and artistic significance would give students a truncated view of our culture."> 1980US003
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American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.
1980US003. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). United States Court of Appeals-8th Circuit, 1980. Florey v. Sioux Falls School District, 619 F.2d 1311, 1314, 1317 (8th Cir. 1980). Jay Sekulow, Letter to School Superintendents (Virginia Beach, VA: American Center for Law and Justice, November 17, 1992), p. 1. Elizabeth Ridenour, Public Schools-Bible Curriculum (Greensboro, N.C.: National Council On Bible Curriculum, 1996), p. 14, 24, 25, 31. Robert K. Skolrood, The National Legal Foundation, letter to National Council on the Bible Curriculum in Public Schools, Sept. 13, 1994, p. 5.