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McCollum v. Board of Education
Women sued the school for offering voluntary religious classes saying that her son was getting criticized for not attending them. The court ruled in her favor saying the classes where unconstitutional. Now because of this case we can not attend a religious class. -
Zorach v. Clauson
New york schools where allowing students to be excused from school during religious time. Parents sued for allowing the practice of religion to disrupt classrooms. The supreme court ruled that as long as they were not practicing religion on school grounds. -
Engel v. Vitale
The state of New York approved a piece of legislation which required students to start their school days with the Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer that said; "Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers and our country. Amen." Court ruled that it is unconstitutional for state officials to compose an official school prayer and encourage its recitation in public schools. -
Flast v. Cohen
Taxpayer was suing the government because the where using his tax money to fund something he did not support. The court decided the man suing could not stand to sue the government. Now we still don't have any say in what our tax money is used for. -
Tinker v. Des Moines independent community school district
Students where wearing a black arm band to protest the war and where being sent home. The court decided that students can protest peacefully. Now students can still protest peaceful as long as they're not supporting anything illegal. -
Lemon v. Kurtzman
In Pennsivania a law was passed sayig that all school where required to recieve government funding even the schools based on a religous faith such as cathloic schools. The citizens in the Eastern District sued over them not having the right to decided what school their tax money went to. The surpreme court rulled 8-1 in the favor of the schools saying it was not a violation of the 1st amendment as they understood they would be paying for local schools when they chose to live in the are. -
Board of Education v. Pico
The Island Trees Union Free School District acting contrary to the parents and school staff, ordered that certain books be removed from its district's junior high and high school. In support of its actions, the Board said such books were anti-American and anti-Christian. Acting through his friend and several other students, Steven Pico brought suit in federal district court challenging the Board's decision to remove the books. -
Wallace v. Jaffree
Mobile County, Alabama allowed one minute at the beginning of the school day for prayer or meditation. The parents of 3 children who where getting made fun of for not saying prayers during this time took the issue all the way to the supreme court who ruled 6-3 that the issue violated the constitutional law. The school could no longer dedicate any time for religious practices but could not punish children for using their free time to do so. -
Employment division v. Smith
Smith and Black were members of the Native American Church and counselors at a drug rehabilitation clinic. They were fired because they had ingested peyote, a drug, as part of their religious ceremonies as members of thevChurch. At the time, possession of peyote was a crime under Oregon law without a defense for religious use. this doesn't have anything to do with school but it could be a question asked in school drug test if a drug is used as part of a religious thing can you be punished? -
Rosenberger v. Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia
The University of Virginia was denying funding to other student groups less then they where funding their religious groups on campus. The school claimed they where only budgeting the groups they could afford to budget. The case went to the supreme court and the decision was the school was not breaking any constitutional laws by funding the groups they decided. -
Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow
The Elk Grove Unified School District was making their students say the pledge of allegiance everyday at school. Newdow complained of the line "under god" claiming it was a violation of the first amendment. After the case was denied in many court rooms it finally reached the supreme court. The supreme court never made a ruling on the case instead they looked at how Newdow did not have the right to take the side for his daughter due to him not having any legal custody of her. -
Morse v. Frederick
In 2002 Juneau Douglas High School principal suspended Joseph Frederick after he displayed a banner reading "BONG HiTS 4 JESUS" across the street from the school. Frederick sued, claiming his constitutional rights were violated. The court concluding that Frederick's speech rights were violated.
