Prayer in Public School

References:

1. www.concentric.net

2. www.ffrf.org

3. www.cwa.org

4. www.pbs.org

5. www.schoolprayer.com

6. www.providence.edu

7. Textbook Dye

The court cases from 1960

Engel v. Vitale (1962) 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

The New York State’s Board of Regents became concerned about a major decline in students’ morality. They composed following nondenominational prayer and encouraged local schools to recite the prayer at the start of each day: “Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers, and our country.” The Supreme Court found the required recitation of the prayer is inconsistent with the No Establishment Clause and ruled that government agency like a school or government agents like school employees should not compose official prayer to be said in public schools. This was the first case in the U.S. history that prohibited the government from encouraging or sponsoring official prayers in schools.

Abington Township School District v. Schempp (1963) 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7/ Murray v. Curlett (1963) 4, 5, 6

In Schempp’s case, a Pennsylvania law allowed for the reading of ten Bible verses in the beginning of class each day. In Murray’s case, a Maryland law required the reading of the Lord’s Prayer or reading of a passage from the Bible during the school’s opening exercises. The Supreme Court ruled against the reading of Bible verses and the Lord’s Prayer. The Court concluded that the prayer is the form of religion and state sponsored prayer in the public school is unconstitutional.

Wallace v. Jaffree (1985) 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

This case was pertaining to an Alabama law requiring that each school day would begin with a one-minute period of silent meditation or voluntary prayer. In 1978 the original law included only “silent meditation”, but or “voluntary prayer” was included in 1981. The Supreme Court ruled that the law was unconstitutional. The Court felt that “or voluntary prayer” was added...