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First Publicly Supported Schools Were Established
"Old Deluder Satan act" required the extablishment and support of schools in towns of 50 or more families to teach children to read and write. -
The First Amendment
Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof... -
West Virginia vs. Barnette
Supreme Court ruled that students may not be required to salute the flag. -
Everson vs. Bd. of Education
First major establishment clause wherein the Court held that the government cannot aid any one religion or even all religions, b,ut instead must be neutral toward religion. -
Religious instruction during instructional time declared unconstitutional
Students and teachers were and are still allowed to be excused from school attendancce to observe religious holidays. -
McCollum vs Bd. of Ed
The court case that led to having school time set aside for religious instruction declared unconstitutional. -
End of school sponsored prayer/bible reading
The Supreme Court ruled that school sponsored prayer and bible reading violated the establishment clause. -
Engle vs. Vitale
Court case that led to declaring prayer in school was unconstitutional. -
Lemon vs. Kurtzman
Supreme Court announced a three-part test to evaluate establishment clause claims: 1) have a secular purpose, 2) have a primary effect that neither advances nor impedes religion, and 3) avoid excessive entanglement of government with religion. -
Wisconsin vs. Yoder
Court exempted Amish children from school attendance after succesful completion of eighth grade. -
End of posting of Ten Commandments-ky
The establishment clause requires schools to be neutral concerning religion which the courts decided required the Ten Commandments be removed. -
End of voluntary prayer-Alabama
Supreme Court declared and Alabama law that stated "or voluntary prayer" as unconstitutional and said it encouraged students to pray. -
Mozert vs Hawkins County Bd of ed
Parents unsuccessful attempt at restricting reading curriculum due to religious beliefs. -
Lee vs. Weisman
The courts ruled that it was unconstitutional for principals to invite members of the clergy to deliver invocations or benedictions at graduation ceremonies. -
Newdow vs. United States
Only case that made it to the Supreme Court that challenged "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance but it was thrown out because the father who brought the case to court did not have legal custody of the child.