Abington School Case Study

Identification of the Case (Brief Fact Summary)
The Respondent, Edward Schempp, a unitarian, filed a law suit against the Abington School District for a state law that required students to read at least 10 bible verses and recite the Lord’s Prayer at the beginning of school as part of their public education.

Action Sought
The Respondent, Edward Schempp requested injunctive relief and declared the state law unconstitutional. Additionally, he wanted to prohibit the requirement of reciting the Lord’s Prayer.

Facts of the Case
The Abington School District required that all students recite or read at least 10 bible verses and the State of Pennsylvania required the Lord’s Prayer be recited prior to the beginning of class each day. Edward

Schempp had two children enrolled in Abington Township public schools and claimed that the requirements violated his First and Fourteenth Amendment rights, which includes the Establishment-of-religion clause and the Free Exercise Clause. The Pennsylvania statue was struck down by the District Court in two separate trials. The school district amended the requirement and allowed students to be excused from the morning ritual if a written request was submitted by the parents. The Respondent was not satisfied with the amendment and pursued the case to the U.S Supreme Court.

Question(s) to be Answered by the Court
Did the Pennsylvania law and Abington’s policy, requiring public school students to participate in classroom religious exercise, violate the religious freedom of students as protected by the First and Fourteenth Amendments? (Oyez, 2017)

Answer(s) Given by the Court
Abington School District and the Pennsylvania state law were in violation. The Pennsylvania State Law and the Abington School district requirements violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments. Although students had been given the opportunity to opt out, it still violates the establishment clause. The daily bible readings and prayer infringed on the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.

Reasons for those Answers
The Bible readings and Prayer were deemed religious exercises and unconstitutional under the Establishment Clause.

Significance of the Case
This case is significant in its decision that prohibits religion in public schools and the separation of Church and State.