Case Analysis: Prayer at School CASE: LEE v. WEISMAN, 505 U.S. 577 (1992) COURT: Argued in the United States Supreme Court on November 6, 1991, and decided on June 24, 1992. PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT: Robert Lee, principal at Nathan Bishop Middle School, at the time of the case, was the plaintiff in the Supreme Court case. DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT: The parents of Deborah Weisman, a student at Nathan Bishop Middle School, at the time, were the respondents. BACKGROUND FACTS: While planning the graduation ceremony for Nathan Bishop Middle School in Providence, Rhode Island, Robert Lee asked a rabbi to say a “secular” prayer to open the ceremony. Offended at this idea, the parents of student Deborah Weisman, sought a temporary restraining order in District …show more content…
After the ceremony, the parents sought a permanent injunction banning clergymen from praying at future graduations. The federal district court found the prayers unconstitutional because they failed the Lemon test. The Court of Appeals affirmed the District Court’s decision. The case was then given certiorari when Robert Lee took it to the Supreme Court. PLAINTIFF’S CLAIM: Robert Lee claimed that having clergy recite the non-sectarian prayer at the graduation ceremony is an important tradition and does not violate the Establishment Clause because the prayer is non-sectarian and thus the prayer does not establish one religion over another. Furthermore, Lee and the other defendants argued that attendance at the graduation ceremony was voluntary. DEFENDANT’S CLAIM: Deborah Weisman’s parents claimed that a rabbi’s prayer at a public school graduation ceremony was a violation of the Establishment Clause. REMEDY SOUGHT BY PLAINTIFF: Robert Lee sought a reversal of the permanent injunction banning him from having clergymen recite prayers at future graduation ceremonies. APPEAL PROCESS: The respondent won the case in the District …show more content…
VITALE, 370 U.S. 421 (1962) COURT: Argued in the United States Supreme Court on April 3, 1962, and decided on June 25, 1962. PLAINTIFF/APPELLANT: Steven I. Engel, et al. one of five parents who sued the school board of Herricks Union Free School District in New York. Mr. Engel was Jewish. The other parents were Jewish, atheist, and Unitarian, and one was a member of the New York Society for Ethical Culture. DEFENDANT/RESPONDENT: William J. Vitale Jr., et al. the president of the school board of Herricks Union Free School District in New York. BACKGROUND FACTS: A New York State law was adopted and enacted that mandated that all public schools recite the pledge of allegiance and a non-denominational prayer to start the school day. Students were allowed to not stand for the prayer. The school board of Herricks Union Free School District in New York adopted and approved the non-denominational prayer that the Board of Regents of New York had written and proposed in 1951 to start the school day. The prayer was as follows, “Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence upon Thee, and we beg Thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers, and our country,” (CITATION). The New York District Court ruled in favor of Vitale, claiming that the prayer was not a violation of the Establishment Clause. PLAINTIFF’S CLAIM: The plaintiffs claimed that the school prayer was unconstitutional because it violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment as applied to the
the cases discussed in this paper is Pierce v. Society of Sisters. In separate cases the Sisters of the Holy Names and Hill Military Academy would sue the governor of Oregon, Walter Pierce as well as state attorney general H. Van Winkle and district attorney of Multnomah County, Stanley Meyers. The Oregon state voters were presented with and passed a law called the Compulsory Education Act on November 7, 1922. This newly elected Act eliminated parochial schools, including Catholic schools except
The Practice of Religion in Public Schools The “establishment” or “religion” clause of the First Amendment of the Constitution reads: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof” (Education Week, 2003, para. 2). It is from this clause that the idea of separation of church and state comes. It is also the basis for much of the debate regarding the practice of religion in public schools (Education Week, 2003). One of the big questions
In the United States, students have slightly different rights in school than outside of school. While outside of school, students are considered and viewed as normal members of society. However, when in school, different things are expected of students. That is why students have slightly different rights in school than outside. The supreme court has taken many cases related to students that cover all areas of their rights. This paper will cover three main areas of student rights: censorship, privacy
For my paper I decided to choose the religion of Islam. I decided to pick this religion because of its fast growing rate. It is also different from what I am used to growing up with, so I was interested in learning more. I had learned some basic facts after the 9/11 event, but the Muslim religion and culture was still a mystery to me. Picking this topic has helped me learn more about Muslims and will help me better relate to them in my future work. Background and History Islam is the religion for
Summary: After trying different methods to enrich special need students, the author felt that finally she found a method that works the best. The author in her own words said: “I wanted my students to be engaged, but like many teachers, couldn't identify what was standing in their way” (Judith Gaston Fisher, 2007). Studies have shown that to improve mindfulness, the focused awareness on the present moment, among adolescents, meditation practice can help to curb impulsivity. Also academic research
assessment tools. Throughout this paper I will discuss my interview with F.C. entailing a social history, nutritional status, Katz index score of independence in activities of daily living, the results of her mini mental exam, fall prevention scale and a summary of my overall impression. Social History F.C. is an 86-year-old Caucasian female that was born in Philadelphia. She is one of thirteen children all of which, except one, are still living. Her parents were immigrants from Calabria, Italy both lived
“understood to be a complex, dynamic, and non-linear process of change in the mindset of an individual that leads over time to a significant alteration in world-view, perception of external events, and his/her internal understanding of them.” In many cases, these changes can lead to individual or group acts of terrorism and violent extremism. Understanding how radicalization operates in the confines of other ideologies can be complicated and difficult. In Europe for example, we see "nationalist and
Psychology can easily be applied to one’s everyday life because it can be found and observed anywhere, including in one’s family, classroom, club, or friend group. In the specific case of the Sr. High Youth Group at Sesame Street Church, many psychological concepts can be observed. In youth group it is valued to do good works, to read the Bible, and to live for the Lord. We joke around on occasion, but the message conveys to us. As teens, we are lazy and don’t always do what is expected of us. What
should give you a sense of your own worth and value. Spirituality can help you to develop inner strength and peace. Hope and optimism are important in spirituality. Spiritual practices may include - Belonging to a faith community Meditation and prayer Living by a set of codes; for example, in your personal relationships with family and friends or how you treat others generally Emphasis on spiritual values such as honesty, kindness, hope and
income away, they limit consumerism and create new opportunities for those in poverty. When they give a portion of their time to service, they have the chance to change the loves of others and be changed in their own hearts. When they claim time for prayer, they open themselves to God and one another. Small decisions matter” (243). The recommendations laid out are free to interpretation to fit the reader’s family dynamic. That flexibility gives the family the ability to do what works for them when
To provide culturally competent health care, self-awareness is an important indicator of success. This means being able to recognize similarities and differences within and between different cultural groups. Part of being culturally competent for healthcare providers is understanding one 's own views on culture, as well as the views of the client. Understanding culturally diverse populations; their values, traditions, history, and institutions is not simply political correctness. It is imperative
registered the same as a 2.1 magnitude earthquake. It was said to have destroyed 140 homes and several other buildings to include a middle school and a retirement home (Hemenway, 2013b). Investigators said that the blast had left a crater measuring nearly ten feet deep and as much as 100 feet wide. President Obama issued a statement the day after: Today our prayers go out to the people of West, Texas, in the aftermath of last night’s deadly explosion at a fertilizer plant. A tight-knit community has
Cultural Affiliations Indian Americans refer to themselves as Indian Americans, East Indians, or Indo-Americans in the United States. They originate from the East and South India, where traditions and cultural practices are passed down from generation to generation. According to Dupree, Bhakta, and Patel (2013), most Indians move to the United States for better education, lifestyle, and job opportunities (pg. 314). After arriving in the United States, some Indian Americans start to abandon their
Summary of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet Paris asks Capulet for his daughter Juliet's hand in marriage. Capulet replies that she is still too young to be married, but nevertheless invites Paris to try to woo her at a banquet he is holding that night. He gives a servant a list of guests and tells him to take an invitation to each of them. The servant is illiterate, and so goes about trying to find someone to read the list for him. He runs into Romeo and Benvolio, who are still discussing
In 1994, R&B recording artist R. Kelly released a song entitled, “Bump n’ Grind” topping musical charts and remaining number one for in the US for twelve weeks; years later people still quote the chorus, “I don’t see nothing wrong with a little bump and grind”. In other words, I don’t see any harm in casual sex otherwise known as fornication. The relevancy of this song does not lie in its ability to top charts or the fact that audiences consider this a classic, the most alarming thought or reality