1. Abington School District v. Schempp, 374 U.S.
religion
203 (1963) - Court finds Bible reading over school
intercom unconstitutional.
Murray v. Curlett, 374 U.S. 203 (1963) - Court
finds forcing a child to participate in Bible reading
in and prayer at school unconstitutional.
School
Epperson v. Arkansas, 393 U.S. 97 (1968) - Court
says the state cannot ban the teaching of evolution.
Stone v. Graham, 449 U.S. 39 (1980) - Court
finds posting of the Ten Commandments in schools
unconstitutional.
Wallace v. Jaffree, 472 U.S. 38 (1985) - Court
Minersville v. Gobitis, 310 U.S. 586 (1940) - finds state law enforcing a moment of silence in
Supreme Court rules that a public school may require schools had a religious purpose and is therefore
students to salute the flag and pledge allegiance even unconstitutional.
if it violates their religious scruples.
Edwards v. Aquillard, 482 U.S. 578 (1987) -
West Virginia State Board of Education v. Court finds state law requiring equal treatment for
Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943) - Court overturns creationism has a religious purpose and is therefore
Gobitis but is broader in its scope. No one can unconstitutional.
be forced to salute the flag or say the pledge of Board of Education v. Mergens, 496 U.S. 226
allegiance if it violates the individual conscience. (1990) - The court rules that the Equal Access Act
does not violate the First Amendment. Public schools
McCollum v. Board of Education, 333 U.S. 203 that receive federal funds and maintain a “limited
(1948) - Court finds religious instruction in public open forum” on school grounds after school hours
schools a violation of the establishment clause and cannot deny “equal access” to student groups based
therefore unconstitutional. upon “religious, political, philosophical, or other
content.”
Zorach v. Clausen, 343 U.S. 306 (1952) - Court
finds that release time from public school classes Lee v. Weisman, 112 SCt. 2649 (1992) - Court
for religious instruction does not violate the finds prayer at public school graduation ceremonies
establishment clause. violates the establishment clause and is therefore
unconstitutional.
Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421 (1962) - Court finds Lamb’s Chapel et al. v. Center Moriches Union
school prayer unconstitutional. Free School District, 508 U.S. 384 (1993) - Court
says that school districts cannot deny churches access
“Almighty God, dear heavenly Father. to school premises after-hours, if the district allowed
In Thy name let us now, in pious spirit, begin the use of its building to other groups.
our instruction. Enlighten us, teach us all
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us not into temptation, deliver us from all community of the importance of church-state separation
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