May non-school personnel distribute religious material to students off school premises?
Yes. In Bacon v. Bradley-Bourbonnais High School Dist. No. 307, the court held that non-school personnel could distribute religious material to students outside the school grounds. 707 F. Supp. 1005 (C. D. Ill. 1989). For example, such distribution is permissible on a public sidewalk or park, areas traditionally open to the public for expressive activity. However, local officials may implement reasonable content-neutral time, place and manner regulations. Such regulations may prohibit the distribution of material that disturbs the work of the school or interferes with the well-being of students. What are some concerns that arise when non-school personnel distribute religious material to students in close proximity to the school grounds? • Students might not realize that the school itself is not endorsing a religious message. School officials must take affirmative steps to make certain that students understand this. • Students who reject religious material in front of other students may
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