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Santa Fe ISD vs. Doe
Santa Fe Independent School District vs. Doe
Before every varsity football game, a student would deliver a Christian prayer over the PA system.
"The First Amendment's Establishment Clause prohibits the government from making any law respecting an establishment of religion." (Cornell University Law School: Legal Information Institute)
The court of appeals found that even non-sectarian, non-proselytizing prayers violated the Establish Clause
The school district is not happy about the ruling
When the case was sent to the U.S. Supreme Court, where they agreed with the ruling
The court decided that:
- Student-led prayers at football games are unconstitutional
- on school property, at school-sponsored event, over the PA system, supervised by district employees
- claimed that the prayers violated the Establishment Clause of the 1st amendment
- two mothers and their children sued the school district
2000:
The first court ruling changed the district's policy to only permit non-sectarian, non-proselytizing prayers
Neither side was satisfied with this ruling
The school board argued that the prayers were private speech because:
- they were delivered before the game started
- they came completely from the student
Established a policy regarding prayers at sporting events and graduations
Affirms support of "constitutionally permissible, student-led, student-initiated prayer at public schools"
Further restricts where student-led and student-initiated prayer is allowed in schools
Reiterates that school-sponsored prayer is against the Establishment Clause
Impacts on Modern Education
Other Cases:
Medina Valley ISD v. Schultz
- addressed prayers at graduations
Kountze ISD
- addresses religiously-themed run-through banners at high-school football games
Santa Fe
The Supreme Court Justices of 2000
One of the local churches was behind the Santa Fe High School believing that the private football prayer was not wrong.
The Santa Fe Independent School District is located in Texas.