Engel v. Vitale: How a landmark Supreme Court decision established a clear separation between religion and public schools

Engel v. Vitale (1962)

School sponsorship of religious activities violates the establishment clause

Engel v. Vitale was a landmark United States Supreme Court case that dealt with the issue of prayer in public schools. The case was brought by a group of parents who objected to a state-written prayer that was recited in the public schools of New York State. The parents argued that the prayer violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits the government from establishing or endorsing a religion.

The Supreme Court agreed with the parents’ argument and ruled that the state-written prayer was unconstitutional. The Court’s decision was based on the principle that the government must remain neutral towards religion, and cannot take actions that endorse or promote any particular religion.

The Engel v. Vitale decision was significant because it established the principle of separation between church and state in public schools. It also set a precedent for future cases involving the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

The aftermath of the Engel v. Vitale decision saw a decrease in the amount of religious content in public schools, as the decision was interpreted to prohibit school-sponsored prayer and religious instruction. However, the decision did not prohibit students from practicing their religion or engaging in private religious speech on school grounds.

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