RELIGION: Why it's not in schools

Allen Marsh (Letters Aug. 2) states that “Anti-Christians succeeded in stopping our schools from teaching Christianity and morality by Court opinion, not legislated law.”

What the courts have done is enforce the U.S. Constitution and the Idaho Constitution. There is much bickering about the intent of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, so I won’t go down that path. However, I would say that the Idaho Constitution is very clear:

“ARTICLE IX SECTION 6. RELIGIOUS TEST AND TEACHING IN SCHOOL PROHIBITED. …No sectarian or religious tenets or doctrines shall ever be taught in the public schools…”

When the Idaho Constitution was being written, taxpayer-funded public school systems were being established nationwide. Thus, one discussed issue was whether or not to fund parochial schools with public funds. The result of the debate is clearly detailed in the state Constitution.

JAMES FULTON

Post Falls