-
West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette
Two grade school students refused to stand for the pledge of allegiance because they were from a family of Jehovah's Witnesses. They were sent home because of non-compliance. The Court ruled it unconsitutional to compel kids to stand for the pledge. -
Engel v. Vitale
The New York State Board of Regents authorized a short, voluntary prayer for recitation at the start of each school day. A group of organizations joined forces in challenging the prayer, claiming that it violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. The New York Court of Appeals rejected their arguments. -
School District of Abington Township, Pennsylvania v. Schempp
The Schempp family, including high school students Roger and Donna Schempp, sued the Abington (Pa.) school district over its policy of including bible verses and prayers at school activities. The Schempps were Unitarians, and they sued the school, even though it allowed for written exemptions for students objecting to the practice. In Abington School District v. Schempp (1963), Justice Fred Clark said the general practice violated the First Amendment. -
Tinker v. Des Moines
Several students planned to wear armbands to school in order to protest the Vietnam War. Protest became allowed as long as it didn't disrupt school activities. -
Board of Education, Island Trees Union Free School District No. 26 v. Pico by Pico
The Island Trees Union Free School District's Board of Education (the "Board"), acting contrary to the recommendations of a committee of parents and school staff, ordered that certain books be removed from its district's junior high and high school libraries. In support of its actions, the Board said such books were: "anti-American, anti-Christian, anti-Semitic, and just plain filthy." Libraries were not restricted because some people dont like the idea. -
Bethel School District v. Fraser
A public high school student delivered a nominating speech on behalf of another student at a student assembly. The speech contained elaborate and immature sexual innuendo. The school suspended the student for violating the school’s no-disruption rule, which prohibited “obscene, profane language.” Schools could not suspend without properly warning of such behavior beforehand. -
Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier
The Spectrum, the school-sponsored newspaper of Hazelwood East High School, was written and edited by students. In May 1983, Robert E. Reynolds, the school principal, received the pages proofs for the May 13 issue. Reynolds found two of the articles in the issue to be inappropriate, and ordered that the pages on which the articles appeared be withheld from publication. Cathy Kuhlmeier and two other former Hazelwood East students brought the case to court. -
Board of Education of Westside Community Schools v. Mergens
Westside High School senior Bridget Mergens in Omaha, Nebraska, asked her principal for permission to start an after-school Christian bible, prayer and study student club. The principal denied Mergens’ request, telling her that a religious club would violate the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause. -
Beussink v. Woodland R-IV School District
A high school student created a personal Web site on his own computer. His homepage contained a hyperlink to the school web site and lampooned school officials. He used vulgar language on his site. Schools could no longer punish a student for what they put on his personal page. -
Morse v. Frederick
Joseph Frederick, a high school senior, unfurled a banner with drug references on it. He was suspended for refusing to put it away. The Court ruled in favor of the school saying that the First Amendment did not protect Frederick in this case. -
Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission
A baker refused to bake a cake for a gay couple's wedding. He ended up getting the right to refuse. -
Minnesota Voters Alliance v. Mansky
The Court struck down a law prohibiting individuals from wearing political apparel at or near polling places.
