Straight from the Constitution
First Amendment – Establishment Clause, Free Exercise Clause; freedom of speech, of the press, of religion and of assembly; right to petitionCongress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Connection:
Bridget Mergens, a student at Westside High School, requested permission to start a Christian club. Her request was denied, and she sued the school. This is article states "Ms. Mergens argued that the Equal Access Act required the school to grant her request to form a Christian club. The Act requires that secondary schools allowing "noncurriculum related clubs" to meet must also allow religious and political clubs, as long as they are student-initiated and student-led. The Act also forbids teachers from participating in student religious clubs (except as monitors) and prohibits outside adults from directing, controlling or regularly attending the meetings of a student religious club. School officials argued that the Equal Access Act did not apply to Westside High and that, even if it did, the Act was unconstitutional. Whether the Equal Access Act requirement that schools permitting noncurriculum related clubs must also permit student religious clubs is a violation of the Establishment Clause. In an 8-1 decision, the Court ruled that the Equal Access Act does not violate the Establishment Clause." The purpose of the Act is to avoid discrimination against student religious and political speech. Allowing student religious clubs on the same basis as other student clubs is equal treatment, not school "looks" of religion. They have the right to assemble any kind of group including religious ones.This ties in with the first amendment because they are not giving them the right to assemble or form a religious group because it may offensive or anger other religious students.
Works Cited
"Board of Education of Westside Community Schools v. Mergens". Religious Library. http://www.firstamendmentschools.org/freedoms/case.aspx?id=497. September 15, 2010.
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