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Compulsory School Law
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. -
First Publicly Supported Schools
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. -
Bible as a Textbook
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. -
Stand, Salute, Pledge
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. -
Everson vs. Board of Education
First supreme court decision that ruled government must remain neutral to all religions. "Separation of Church and State" -
Eisenhower adds to the Pledge of Allegiance
President Eisenhower signs a bill into law adding "one nation under God" to the Pledge of Allegiance. -
Prayer in School
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. -
Banned Prayer and Bible Reading
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). -
Religious Curriculum
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). -
Lemon Test
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) -
Amish Community Files Claim
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. -
Voluntary Prayer
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. -
Graduation Prayer
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). -
US Department of Education Religious Pamplet
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. -
"One Nation Under God"
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.
