Florida Civic Literacy Practice Exam

Which United States Supreme Court case influenced the approach to religious practices in public education?

1. Brown v. Board of Education

2. Engel v. Vitale

3. Roe v. Wade

4. Lemon v. Kurtzman

The correct answer is: Engel v. Vitale

The influence of Engel v. Vitale on religious practices in public education stems from its landmark ruling that established that state-sponsored voluntary prayer in public schools is unconstitutional under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. This case arose when the New York State Board of Regents authorized a short, voluntary prayer for recitation at the start of each school day. The Supreme Court found that this practice violated the principle of separation of church and state, indicating that even voluntary, non-denominational prayer could not be sanctioned or encouraged by the government in public schools. The ruling in Engel v. Vitale significantly shaped future cases concerning religion in schools, emphasizing the necessity for a clear boundary between government actions and religious activities. This landmark decision reinforced the importance of protecting students from any government-imposed religious practices, thereby influencing educational policies and the interpretation of religious freedom in the context of public education. Other cases mentioned, while significant in their own right, focus on different aspects of civil rights and liberties. Brown v. Board of Education addresses racial segregation, Roe v. Wade pertains to women's rights and reproductive health, and Lemon v. Kurtzman deals with the financing of religious schools, which are important but do not specifically target the approach to religious practices in public education as