Monday, June 17, 1963: Abington School District v. Schempp

     The Supreme Court barred Bible-reading and the recital of the Lord's Prayer in public schools as part of required classroom exercises.
     Such a practice is unconstitutional, it said in an 8-1 ruling on cases from Maryland and Pennsylvania. The decision would apply also is many other states where such customs are followed as part of schoolday opening classes.
     The court did not specify whether such observances would be possible on a permissive, rather than a required basis but did bar the establishment of any such exercises by majority rule.
     -- Associated Press. Full story: @

* Summary, oral arguments (from oyez.com): @

* Text of ruling (from FindLaw): @

*"Ellery's Protest: How One Young Man Defied Tradition and Sparked the Battle Over School Prayer" (Stephen D. Solomon, 2007): @
* Earlier post on Engel v. Vitale (June 1962): @

* Earlier post on Madalyn Murray O'Hair (December 1960): @ 

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