The deceptively named "Religious Freedom Amendment" introduced by Rep. Ernest Istook (R-OK) signaled a new round in the highly charged debate over church-state separation. The amendment would have superseded the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on public school prayer by allowing teachers to organize and supervise religious

ADL's handbook provides legal and policy guidelines for school board members, school administrators, teachers, parents and others seeking guidance regarding the hotly contested issue of religion in the schools.

activities during school hours. The amendment would also have allowed tax dollars to go to parochial schools, and religious objects, such as crosses, to be displayed in courtrooms.

Although ADL understood that many parents believe an increased religious presence in schools can help teach moral values to their children, the League argued that the "cure," in this instance, was far worse than the disease. "The majority religion in each school," said ADL, "would inevitably choose which faith to follow" ­ which in many American schools would mean Christianity, at the expense of other faiths.

After an intense lobbying campaign by ADL and others, the amendment failed to get the necessary two-thirds majority in the House of Representatives when it was voted on in June 1998. However, its supporters vowed to introduce similar legislation again in the future.