-
Establishment of first publicly supported schools in America
Massachusetts legislature enacted the "old Deluder Satan" Act. -
First Amendment establishes separation of church and state
-
Gitlow v. New York
Ruled that the Fourteenth Amendment incorporates the guarantees of the First Amendment and safeguards them against state interference. -
West Virginia v. Barnette
Students may not be required to salute the flag. -
Everson v. Board of Ed
First major establishment clause decision -
McCollum v. Board of Ed
Religious instruction during school hours was declared unconstitutional. -
Zorach v. Clausen
Established "release-time" religious instruction, where the instruction took place off school grounds. -
Period: to
Supreme Court declared school-sponsored prayer and bible reading unconstitutional
-
Epperson v. Arkansas
A state cannot restrict teaching in favor of a religious preference. -
Lemon v. Kurtzman
Established the Lemon Test. 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. Used consistently until 1992. -
Wisconsin v. Yoder
Court exempted Amish children from school attendance after successful completion of eighth grade. -
Stone v. Graham
The posting of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms was declared unconstitutional. -
Wallace v. Jaffee
Supreme Court struck down an Alabama law that indicated an intent to encourage students to pray. -
Lee v. Weisman
Clergy led invocations and benedictions were declared unconstitutional as a violation of the establishment clause. -
Altman v. Bedford Central School District
Ruled in favor of parents who claimed that parts of a program offended their Catholic faith.