Date of Award

8-2024

Document Type

Open Access Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Education/Leadership in Urban Schools

First Advisor

Abiola Farinde-Wu

Second Advisor

Bodunrin O. Banwo

Third Advisor

Christopher C. Jett

Abstract

Students have full freedom under the law to practice religion in public schools. This is especially important for Black students, for whom religion has been shown to improve academic achievement and to mitigate many stressors they face. However, due to misinterpretations of the “separation of church and state” (or the “establishment clause” of the First Amendment), schools may inadvertently suppress the religious freedom of students instead of actively providing a safe space for religious practice. For this research, a single embedded intrinsic case study was conducted to determine how the separation of church and state doctrine manifested in the experiences of Black Christian students and their families in the Massachusetts public school system. Data from nine Black Christian middle or high school students and 10 parents of Black Christian middle or high school students were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using cultural-historical activity theory and critical race theory. Interview responses revealed that students were able to engage with religion and implement Christian values learned at home while at school. However, not all values were important to schools, and students received mixed messages regarding Christianity. Moreover, the public school environment did not feel inclusive for the Christian students. Student participants did not mention the establishment clause directly, but they knew how the environment felt. Some of the parents did point to the separation of church and state as the reason public schools do not allow more conversation around Christianity. The study results show that schools in Massachusetts have an opportunity to be culturally responsive by affirming the Christian identity of students. Churches can also become involved with public schools to further support Black Christian students and their families.

Comments

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