ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the place of religion in Spanish state schools, opening with a discussion of the three topics which have arguably taken the lion’s share of commentators’ attention hitherto: cooperation with religious groups in the provision of state education, including a brief analysis of the different legal treatment of the Roman Catholic Church, denominations that have signed an agreement with the Spanish State, and other religious bodies; the teaching of religious education; and the place of devotional activities and materials. The chapter moves on to address the place of religion in schools in a wider context, namely the treatment of religion within other areas of the academic curricula such as history; the nature and scope of accommodation of religious requirements of parents and students in schools such as objections to syllabi or activities within other subjects such as literature, biology, or sex/relationship education; and practices relating to diet, holy days, and prayer. It concludes with reflections on the approach to religion in general terms by the legal framework and the question of how individual matters of faith and conscience relate to the collective project of public education.
