In which case did the Supreme Court hold that the establishment clause forbids prayer in public schools, even if it is non-denominational?

In which case did the Supreme Court hold that the establishment clause forbids prayer in public schools, even if it is non-denominational?

• A. Everson v. Board of Education
• B. Engel v. Vitale
• C. Lemon v. Kurtzman
• D. Zelman v. Simmons-Harris

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is how the Establishment Clause limits government-sponsored religious activity in public schools. In Engel v. Vitale, the Supreme Court ruled that a daily, state-approved prayer recited in public classrooms violates the Establishment Clause, even though the prayer was non-denominational. The justices said that having the government compose and encourage a prayer amounts to government endorsement of religion, which the First Amendment forbids. So, school officials cannot lead or organize prayers as part of the school day, though students may pray privately on their own time. By comparison, Everson v. Board of Education dealt with public funding for transportation to religious schools, not prayer; Lemon v. Kurtzman created a general framework for evaluating establishment cases but isn’t the case that prohibited school-sponsored prayer; Zelman v. Simmons-Harris involved vouchers to private schools and aspects of public aid, not classroom prayer.

The main idea here is how the Establishment Clause limits government-sponsored religious activity in public schools. In Engel v. Vitale, the Supreme Court ruled that a daily, state-approved prayer recited in public classrooms violates the Establishment Clause, even though the prayer was non-denominational. The justices said that having the government compose and encourage a prayer amounts to government endorsement of religion, which the First Amendment forbids. So, school officials cannot lead or organize prayers as part of the school day, though students may pray privately on their own time. By comparison, Everson v. Board of Education dealt with public funding for transportation to religious schools, not prayer; Lemon v. Kurtzman created a general framework for evaluating establishment cases but isn’t the case that prohibited school-sponsored prayer; Zelman v. Simmons-Harris involved vouchers to private schools and aspects of public aid, not classroom prayer.