Question

Think about how the court ruled in Engel v. Vitale. Based on that ruling, which of the following situations would be considered unconstitutional? Check all of the boxes that apply. A public school teacher writes a prayer on the blackboard and asks her class to say it. A public school principal prays each morning on the school’s loudspeaker system. A private school requires its teachers to lead students in prayer. A state passes a law requiring all schoolchildren to pray.

Answer 1

Answer:

A. A public school teacher writes a prayer on the blackboard and asks her class to say it.

B. A public school principal prays each morning on the school’s loudspeaker system.

D. A state passes a law requiring all schoolchildren to pray.

Answer 2

Check all of the boxes that apply.

X   A public school teacher writes a prayer on the blackboard and asks her                                class to say it.

X   A public school principal prays each morning on the school’s loudspeaker system.

     A private school requires its teachers to lead students in prayer.

X   A state passes a law requiring all schoolchildren to pray.

The constitutional situation would only be the third option, as the requirement for the teachers to lead the prayer is in a Private School.

The main issue in the Engel v. Vitale case, ruled in 1962, n°370 U.S. 421, was the separation of the church and the state, and in this situation the requirement from the private school direction to the teachers is not a violation of the establishment Clause of the First Ammendment. Justice Douglas even argued that any type of public promotion of religion, including giving financial aid to religious schools, violates the Establishment Clause, thus confirming their independence.

All others situations include public workers or resources being used to promote religion.