For clarity ' s sake , religious instruction at a US public school would be a clear and established violation of constitutional protections under the first amendment . There is a ton of case law on this over time . You might remember us dealing with this question exactly in Kansas and giving birth to Pastafarianism in the process may he touch you with his noodly appendage . Going far past the classroom , teachers are not allowed to lead or participate in prayer with students on school grounds . Nor are they permitted to suggest or encourage any religious activity . Coaches are not permitted to pray with their teams . Etc . The beauty of it is freedom . A teacher an agent of the state cannot be a delivery system for religion . BUT ! Students may pray or serve their god in whatever way seems fit even to the point that Sikh males have won the right to carry real ceremonial daggers in public schools . Meet Me At the Flagpole was established to teach students about their freedom of religious expression at American schools . The UK is further along in its move away from religion in its population a much higher portion identify as atheist . But religion is integrated into UK culture and government in a different way than the US . In the case of religion in schools , they are working to catch up .