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The Compulsory School Law was passed in 16442. It is also known as the "Old Deluder Satan Law". This law was passed to assure that children could read their Bible in school.
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The establishment of "Old Deluder Satan Act" required towns of 50 or more families to provide schools so that children could be taught to read and write. In these schools children were taught to read the Bible so that they could achieve salvation. It was believed that the only hope a person had to defeat Satan depended on their ablity to read the Bible.
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A letter written by Dr. Benjamin Rush, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, is published in support of using the Bible as a school textbook.
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The Supreme Court ruled that the First Amendment protected students from being forced to salute or pledge a symbol. Jehovah's Witnesses' had an issue with being forced to salute the American flag which goes against their beliefs.
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First supreme court decision that ruled government must remain neutral to all religions. "Separation of Church and State"
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President Eisenhower signs a bill into law adding "one nation under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance.
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The Supreme Court ruled that school prayer or bible reading vilated the purpose of school. Therefore, morning prayers were no longer permitted as part of the daily routine.
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In a combined decision, the Supreme Court ruled against individual school prayer (Murry v. Curlett) and Bible reading in public schools (Abington Township School Districk v. Schempp).
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A Supreme Court ruling mandates that States are not allowed to require a curriculum that aligns with the views of any particular religion (Epperson vs. Arkanas).
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The Supreme Court announced a three-part test to evaluate establishment clause claims. The Government action or policy must (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." (Lemon vs. Kurtzman)
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The Amish community filed claims that the requirement to attend school violated their right to practice their religous beliefs in the court case Wisconsin vs. Yoder.
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The Supreme Court struck down an Alabama law allowing voluntary or silent prayers in public schools. The idea of "silent meditation" was also struck down because it indicated an intent to encourage students to pray.
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The supreme court ruling states that a clergy-led prayer at a public high school graduation violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment (Lee vs. Weisman).
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At the request of President Bill Clinton, the US Dept. of Education sends out an easy to read pamphlet to every to every superintendent in the country. This pamphlet explains what practices courts have found acceptable, due to widespread confusion over religious practices in public schools.
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An atheist, Michael Newdow, filed suit against the school district claiming the phrase "one nation under God" was a violation of the Constitution. The U.S. Court of Appeals (9th District) upheld the phrase, finding that the words are part of a "ceremonial and patriotic nature". In 2002, Newdow sued another school district on the same grounds. In that case, the appellate court sided with him, before being overturned by the Supreme Court.
