Courtney Dickinson

Ed W Clark High School: TEACH Internship

March 18, 2017

Week Seven Assignment

People v. Stanley

1. Facts of the Case

a. The players involved are the people, petitioners, and Stanley, board of

education of school district 118 respondent.

b. There was a rule in the school district that bible reading was done by the

teachers daily as part of morning exercises. The students were required to attend these

readings, and could not leave the room. Parents took this case to court because they

believed that the respondents were in violation of the fourteenth amendment, and sections

of the Colorado constitution.

c. This case took place in 1927.
d. The case originated in Weld County Colorado, in school district 118.
e. The case is relevant to public education in the U.S. today because it is still

a commonly debated issue, religion in schools. The right to have children educated in

public schools is important, but so is the right of parents to decide what their children are

being taught, and it is important that school districts find the balance in that. It is also

important that it is acknowledged how many students depend on public schools, so we

need to support those schools.

2. The final ruling was that students cannot be required to attend bible readings against the

will of their parents. The bible could still be read without comment, but the children of parents who

want them to, can leave during these readings.

3. I do think that the intent of this case has become a reality for much of America today

because the question of how to balance teaching morality and teaching the bible is brought about
 often, and I think that it still needs to be questioned and thought about even today, to protect

students and families.

Lemon v. Kurtzman

1. The facts of the case

a. Respondent: Alton Lemon Petitioner: David H. Kurtzman, Superintendent

of Public Instruction of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

b. Pennsylvania and Rhode Island both adopted legislation that provided

funding for non-secular, non-public education, which some people, including Lemon,

believed to violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

c. Took Place on March 3rd, 1971.
d. The case originated in Pennsylvania.
e. This case is relevant to public education in the U.S. today because it is

important that schools dont break the law, and are careful in what they are funding and not

funding within schools.

2. The final ruling was that the statute did violate the Establishment clause, and that they

must pass a three-pronged test: it must have a secular legislative purpose, the effect must not

promote or inhibit religion, and it must not foster excessive government entanglement with

religion.
3. I think the intent of this case has become a reality for much of America today because the

Lemon test is used very often in various cases and situations in education.

Board of Education of Westside Community Schools v. Mergens

The facts of the case

a. Respondent: Mergens By and Through Mergens Petitioner: Board of

Education of Westside Community Schools

b. A group of students at Westside High School wanted to form a Christian

club, and was denied by administration because of the Establishment club and because
 they did not have a faculty sponsor. The students sued, claiming the administration

violated the equal access act.

c. Took Place on January 9, 1990
d. The case originated in Westside High School, Omaha, Nebraska.
e. This case is relevant to public education in the U.S. today because it is

important that schools allow clubs like this one, while differentiating it from other,

curriculum based clubs.

4. The final ruling was that the administrations actions were prohibited under the Equal

Access Act because the school had other non-curriculum groups.

5. I think the intent of this case has become a reality for much of America today because it

allows for clubs such as bible club to exist across America, without violating the Establishment

Clause.
Edwards v. Aguillard

The facts of the case

a. Respondent: Edwards Petitioner: Aguillard

b. Louisiana passed a law that required that if evolution was being taught in

a classroom, creationism had to be taught as well.

c. Took Place on June 19, 1987
d. The case originated in Louisiana.
e. This case is relevant to public education in the U.S. today because

evolution is still taught in classes, and there is often religious debate over whether or not

this is okay.

The final ruling was that using the Lemon test, the law violated the Establishment Clause.

I think the intent of this case has become a reality for much of America today because it prevents schools

from teaching religion and making it mandatory that it is taught, in secular classes.