Essentially, public school administrators are acting on behalf of the state and are not allowed to establish a particular religious creed within their school - that forcing students to pray publically and with a particular prayer is an impermissible establishment of religion by state actors. Several other cases shape what kinds of religious observances by students and/or teachers are allowed. This case has an obvious and direct connection to the case of Kim Davis, county clerk of Rowen County, KY.
The prayer was considered "non-denominational," but it is reasonable to argue that the prayer was primarily protestant in nature. The major opponents to the prayer were Jewish organizations.Case Citation:Engel v. Vitale, 370 US 421 (1962)
Engel v. Vitale, (1962) began in the Union Free School District No. 9 in Hyde Park, New York, and was originally heard in the New York State court system.More InformationEngel v. Vitale, (1962) was the first major constitutional challenge to the exercise of religion, specifically prayer, in public schools. The US Supreme Court held the practice to be a violation of the First Amendment Establishment Clause.The case originated in the Union Free School District No. 9, in Hyde Park, New York, after parents of ten students objected to the New York Board of Regents' formal introduction of prayer into the schools and complained that directing the prayer to "Almighty God" was contradictory to their religious practices.Case Citation:Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421 (1962)For more information about Engel v. Vitale, and the Supreme Court's views about prayer in public schools, see Related Questions, below.
Engel v. Vitale, 191 N.Y.S.2d 453 (Sup. Ct. 1959) began in the Supreme Court at Special Term in Nassau County, New York. A decision favoring the New Hyde Park, NY, school district was rendered October 5, 1959, by Judge Bernard S. Meyer. The court held the Reagents' Prayer was constitutional.Engle was subsequently appealed to the Supreme Court Appellate Division, Second Department which affirmed the lower court decision in Engel v. Vitale, 206 N.Y.S.2d 183 (1960); and upheld again by the New York Court of Appeals in Engel v. Vitale, 176 N.E.2d 579 (N.Y. 1961).In the New York justice system, the Supreme Court is the court of original jurisdiction (trial court) for matters of general jurisdiction. The State's high court is the New York Court of Appeals.Case Citation:Engel v. Vitale, 370 US 421 (1962)For more information, see Related Questions, below.
Engel v. Vitale, (1962) was the first of numerous cases challenging the constitutionality of prayer in public school as a violation of the First Amendment Establishment Clause. The decision in this case ruled organized prayer in public schools unconstitutional (private prayer is acceptable under the Free Exercise Clause).The most obvious consequence is that public (tax-supported) schools can no longer promote or teach religion, respecting the rights of those with different beliefs (including atheism) or different secular practices than those conducted at school.Some claim removing religion from the schools has resulted in everything from higher pregnancy rates to increased violence and other negative outcomes. None of these claims can be substantiated, however.Case Citation:Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421 (1962)For more information, see Related Questions, below.
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Justice John Paul Stevens wrote the majority opinion in Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe, 530 US 290 (2000), which held that Santa Fe's policy of allowing student-led, student initiated prayer at football games violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.Moderate Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the majority opinion in the similar case, Lee v. Weisman, 505 US 577 (1992), that held allowing clergy to conduct prayers at official public school ceremonies was unconstitutional under the First Amendment Establishment Clause.These decision were refinements and extensions of the original decision on prayer in public school, Engel v. Vitale, 370 US 421 (1962), in which Justice Black wrote in the majority opinion that non-denominational prayer in public schools violates the "Establishment of Religion" clause.The Court has addressed various aspects of religion in public schools over the years; Justice Stevens' opinion was one in a long line of cases where the Supreme Court sought to define the proper relationship of religion to government-supported facilities and activities.For more information about the Supreme Court's view on prayer in public schools, see Related Questions, below.
He said it was constitutional because no one was forcing the kids to actually say the prayer and they had a choice of leaving the room while the prayer was being said.
Engel v. Vitale began in the Union Free School District No. 9, in Hyde Park, New York, after parents of ten students objected to the New York Board of Regents' formal introduction of prayer into the schools and complained that directing the prayer to "Almighty God" was contradictory to their religious practices.Case Citation:Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421 (1962)
Yes. Engel v. Vitale was the first US Supreme Court case that addressed the constitutionality of prayer in the public schools, and determined the practice was a violation of the First Amendment Establishment Clause.Case Citation:Engel v. Vitale, 370 US 421 (1962)For more information, see Related Questions, below.
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The Petitioners (Engel), a group of ten parents of students in the Union Free School District No. 9, in Hyde Park, New York, prevailed over the New York Board of Regents. The parents objected to a state law permitting recitation of prayer in public school, based largely on the prayer being directed to "Almighty God," a practice contradictory to their religious beliefs.The US Supreme Court held that organized prayer in public school was a violation of the First Amendment Establishment Clause.Case Citation:Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421 (1962)For more information about Engel v. Vitale and prayer in public schools, see Related Questions, below.
No, it was brought to the US Supreme Court on Writ of Certiorari from the Court of Appeals of New York.Case Citation:Engel v. Vitale, 370 US 421 (1962)For more information, see Related Questions, below.