Religious-School Financing and Educational Pluralism in the American Tradition

Antonianum Periodicum Trimestre, Vol. 84, 2009

U of St. Thomas Legal Studies Research Paper No. 09-13

25 Pages Posted: 8 May 2009 Last revised: 24 Jun 2009

See all articles by Thomas C. Berg

Thomas C. Berg

University of St. Thomas, St. Paul/Minneapolis, MN - School of Law

Date Written: May 7, 2009

Abstract

The pattern of church-state relations in the United States presents what many Europeans may see as a paradox. America is by far the most religiously observant of Western nations, yet it provides far less than many Western European nations in government support for religiously affiliated education at the primary and secondary levels, the most important years in forming children's minds. This article, written for a European audience, reviews two explanations for the American tradition of no financing. One is "pluralist," asserting that religious primary and secondary schools can better maintain their independence and identity without state aid because aid brings state regulation; and the second "cohesionist," asserting that while nonsectarian religion is socially valuable, schools of particular denominations undercut social unity by separating children in their formative years and therefore should not be encouraged with government support. I offer a few reasons why the pluralist approach to education is more attractive than the cohesionist approach. Finally, I assess whether the tradition against financing of religious primary and secondary schools does in fact promote educational pluralism, and I conclude that, on balance, it is better for pluralism that religious schools have the option to receive state financing.

Keywords: Religion, First Amendment, Establishment Clause, religious schools, pluralism, comparative constitutional law

Suggested Citation

Berg, Thomas Charles, Religious-School Financing and Educational Pluralism in the American Tradition (May 7, 2009). Antonianum Periodicum Trimestre, Vol. 84, 2009, U of St. Thomas Legal Studies Research Paper No. 09-13, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1401087

Thomas Charles Berg (Contact Author)

University of St. Thomas, St. Paul/Minneapolis, MN - School of Law ( email )

1000 La Salle Avenue
Mail # MSL400
Minneapolis, MN 55403-2015
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
109
Abstract Views
3,263
Rank
448,752
PlumX Metrics