Which case prohibited mandatory Bible readings in public schools?

Which case prohibited mandatory Bible readings in public schools?

• A. Engel v. Vitale (1962)
• B. Abington School District v. Schempp (1963)
• C. Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971)
• D. Obergefell v. Hodges (2015)

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that government-sponsored religious activities in public schools violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. Abington School District v. Schempp held that requiring students to read Bible passages or participate in devotional readings during the school day is unconstitutional because it endorses religion and coerces participation, effectively putting the state’s stamp of approval on religious exercise. The Court emphasized that public schools, as government institutions, cannot compel religious practice or compel students to engage in religious activities. This builds on Engel v. Vitale, which struck down the practice of a state-sponsored prayer in public schools, reinforcing the principle against government-directed religious exercises. Lemon v. Kurtzman later provided a framework for evaluating Establishment Clause challenges, but the direct answer to prohibiting mandatory Bible readings comes from Abington. The other option, Obergefell v. Hodges, concerns same-sex marriage and is not about religion in schools.

The key idea is that government-sponsored religious activities in public schools violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. Abington School District v. Schempp held that requiring students to read Bible passages or participate in devotional readings during the school day is unconstitutional because it endorses religion and coerces participation, effectively putting the state’s stamp of approval on religious exercise. The Court emphasized that public schools, as government institutions, cannot compel religious practice or compel students to engage in religious activities.

This builds on Engel v. Vitale, which struck down the practice of a state-sponsored prayer in public schools, reinforcing the principle against government-directed religious exercises. Lemon v. Kurtzman later provided a framework for evaluating Establishment Clause challenges, but the direct answer to prohibiting mandatory Bible readings comes from Abington. The other option, Obergefell v. Hodges, concerns same-sex marriage and is not about religion in schools.