Elon University/Today in Elon/Lisa Buchanan co-authored a research study aimed at understanding teacher candidate knowledge of religious freedom, the Establishment Clause

Lisa Buchanan, associate professor at the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education, co-authored a research study in The Social Studies aimed at understanding elementary school-teacher candidates’ knowledge of religious freedom and the Establishment Clause in public schools.

Lisa Buchanan, associate professor at the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education, co-authored a research study in “The Social Studies” aimed at understanding elementary school-teacher candidates’ knowledge of religious liberty and the distancing clause. establishment in public schools.

In collaboration with Elizabeth Saylor, University of Georgia, and Sohyun An, Kennesaw State University, the group used a mixed-methods design to determine the candidates’ knowledge of the constitutionality of various actions in public schools and their understanding of the establishment clause when applied to complex situations. scenarios drawn from public school.

The research paper, “The First Amendment, Religious Liberty, and Public Schools in the South,” is part of a larger body of studies by Saylor, An, and Buchanan, including a research session on the practice at the National Council for the Social Studies Annual Meeting.