State control of religion in public schools

The crucial problem of religious instruction in schools supported by public taxes involves at least three significant questions: (1) The question of the importance of religious instruction; (2) the question as to the most fitting occasion for such instruction; and (3) the question of guarding the freedom of religious conscience. Of the first two questions this study is not concerned. This work relates to question (3) and its aim is two-fold, namely: to ascertain the present extent of state control of religious instruction in public schools and how far the principle of religious freedom is observed therein.