FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUES IN THE CONTROL AND USE OF PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES by ...

378 Pages·2011·0.8 MB·English

FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUES IN THE CONTROL AND USE OF

PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES

by

THOMAS E. DAVIS, JR.

DAVID DAGLEY, CHAIR
ANN GODFREY
ED NICHOLS
STEPHEN TOMLINSON
PHILIP WESTBROOK

A DISSERTATION

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of Doctor of Education
in the Department of Educational Leadership,
Policy and Technology Studies
in the Graduate School of
The University of Alabama

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA

2011
Copyright Thomas E. Davis, Jr. 2011
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
ABSTRACT
The passage of the Equal Access Act (1984) brought to light the legal conflict that had
been building over the previous four decades over who should or should not have access to
public school facilities. Following the passage of the Act, many student and community groups
began to request use of school facilities. School leaders were called on to balance conflicting
principles found in the Establishment Clause, the Free Exercise Clause, the Free Speech Clause,
and the Equal Access Act.
This study examines these issues in light of legal cases resulting from these conflicting
ideals. Legal cases from 1981 through 2009 relating to the control and use of school facilities
were examined. Data from the cases were analyzed to determine guiding principles to aid school
administrators in making decisions that will satisfy the principles of the Equal Access while
balancing the demands of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to thank each of the members of my dissertation committee: Ann Godfrey,
Ph.D.; Ed Nichols, Ed.D.; Stephen Tomlinson, Ph.D.; Philip Westbrook, Ed.D.; and David
Dagley, Ph.D., J.D. for their help and support during this process. Each has contributed in unique
ways to my development whether through courses they have taught or thought-provoking
commentary during the dissertation writing process. Special thanks to Dr. Nichols for his
thoughtful encouragement as my Assistant Superintendent in Decatur City Schools as well as his
provision of many helpful resources. Most especially, I would like to thank Dr. Dagley for his
mentoring as I have travelled on this journey. His guidance has been crucial to the completion of
this study as he has thoughtfully pointed the way and patiently answered my many questions
along the way.
I am grateful to my school family at Cedar Ridge Middle School. They have been
incredibly supportive and helpful throughout my learning endeavors. The kind word of
encouragement that many have given over these years has helped me stay the course throughout.
The teachers and staff at Cedar Ridge are a wonderful group and I am proud to serve with them
in the education of Decatur’s future generation. Dr. Beth Weinbaum, principal of Cedar Ridge,
has been most helpful and encouraging as I have completed this endeavor and approach a new
phase of my career. Her willingness to give me the opportunity to work at Cedar Ridge, first as
band director and then as assistant principal, has helped me to achieve more in my career than I
ever thought possible.
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I have been blessed to belong to a family of life-long learners. Throughout my childhood,
I watched as my parents furthered their educations with both of them completing degrees. They
both accomplished these feats while raising myself and four sisters. Beyond this, both have
always been avid readers and students of a wide variety of subjects beyond their area of study.
For this passion to reach ever-higher in career and education while remaining devoted to a loving
family, I am eternally grateful to my parents, Tom and Doris Davis.
My two sons, Chris and Josh, have also been unwavering in their support as I have
worked to further my education. While I hope to be an example of excellence to them, I have
found that I usually learn more from them than they learn from me. They are, without a doubt,
the sons any father would be proud to have.
None of the accomplishments of my adult life would have been possible without the love
and support of one person, my wife, Shannon. She has been continually patient and supportive as
I have moved from one professional goal to the next. She has also provided the inspiration for
me to strive for excellence in my work. She is my constant loving companion but most
importantly she is my best friend.
Finally, I am thankful that I have been continually blessed, more than I have ever
deserved, by a loving God. He has made me what I am and has given me the tools to accomplish
these things for His glory.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................... ii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................................. iii

LIST OF TABLES ...........................................................................................................................x

I INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................................1

Introduction ..........................................................................................................................1

Statement of the Problem .....................................................................................................2

Significance of the Problem .................................................................................................3

Purpose of the Study ............................................................................................................3

Research Questions ..............................................................................................................3

Limitations ...........................................................................................................................4

Assumptions .........................................................................................................................4

Definition of Terms..............................................................................................................5

Organization of the Study ....................................................................................................7

II REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ...........................................................................................8

Introduction ..........................................................................................................................8

First Amendment Principles ..............................................................................................10

Establishment and Free Exercise Conflict .........................................................................11

The Lemon Test ...........................................................................................................15

First Amendment Questions ........................................................................................16
Equal Access Act Principles ..............................................................................................18
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History of Equal Access Act ........................................................................................18
Access to Facilities ......................................................................................................19
Viewpoint Discrimination ............................................................................................21
Forum Analysis ............................................................................................................23
Allowable Restrictions .................................................................................................24
Difficulties Facing School Administrators ........................................................................25
Understanding Legal Implications ...............................................................................26
Legislative Confusion ..................................................................................................27
Conflicting Legal Opinion ...........................................................................................30
State Issues ...................................................................................................................31
Summary ............................................................................................................................32
III METHODOLOGY AND PROCEDURES ..............................................................................34
Introduction ........................................................................................................................34
Research Materials .............................................................................................................34
Research Questions ............................................................................................................34
Methodology ......................................................................................................................35
Data Collection ..................................................................................................................35
Case Brief Method .......................................................................................................36
Data Analysis .....................................................................................................................37
IV DATA AND ANALYSES .......................................................................................................39
Introduction ........................................................................................................................39
Case Briefs .........................................................................................................................39
1981..............................................................................................................................39
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1982..............................................................................................................................41
1983..............................................................................................................................45
1984..............................................................................................................................49
1985..............................................................................................................................53
1986..............................................................................................................................57
1987..............................................................................................................................61
1988..............................................................................................................................65
1989..............................................................................................................................69
1990..............................................................................................................................74
1991..............................................................................................................................82
1992..............................................................................................................................92
1993..............................................................................................................................95
1994............................................................................................................................108
1995............................................................................................................................116
1996............................................................................................................................120
1997............................................................................................................................131
1998............................................................................................................................141
1999............................................................................................................................148
2000............................................................................................................................153
2001............................................................................................................................167
2002............................................................................................................................179
2003............................................................................................................................188
2004............................................................................................................................201
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2005............................................................................................................................219
2006............................................................................................................................230
2007............................................................................................................................244
2008............................................................................................................................261
2009............................................................................................................................280
Analyses of Cases ............................................................................................................298
Religious Issues .........................................................................................................303
Religious Clubs ..........................................................................................................306
Church Use of Facilities.............................................................................................310
Religious Displays .....................................................................................................313
School Endorsement of Religion ...............................................................................315
Religious Literature Distribution ...............................................................................316
Secular Issues .............................................................................................................317
Trespass......................................................................................................................321
Student Activity .........................................................................................................324
Communication ..........................................................................................................326
Facilities Utilization ...................................................................................................327
Non-school Activity ...................................................................................................328
Literature Distribution ...............................................................................................328
Decisional Analysis ...................................................................................................329
Summary ..........................................................................................................................335
V SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS...................................336
Introduction ......................................................................................................................336
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Summary ..........................................................................................................................336
Guiding Principles ...........................................................................................................339
Conclusions ......................................................................................................................350
Recommendations for Further Study ...............................................................................356
REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................358
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