Professional Documents
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Schempp v.
Abington 1963 And the Decision?
Bible in School? Majority Rule in Favor of Schempp
By Diana Lenhardt By: Travis Coleson
The question arises as to whether or not On June 17, 1963, the United States Supreme
the reading of Bible passages should be Count ruled 8-1 in the Abington School District v.
instituted in public schools. Although Schempp case that it is unconstitutional for public
approved in the state of Pennsylvania schools to have students read from the Bible. Only
in1949, should public schools permit the one court member, Justice Potter Stewart, dis-
reading of “at least ten verses from the sented to the case. The majority of the court in-
Holy Bible…without comment, at the cluded Early Warren, Tom C. Clark, Hugo Black,
opening of each public school day.”? Byron R. White, William O. Douglass, Arthur J. Gold-
Many parents disagreed with this practice, berg, John M. Harlan, and William J. Brennan. The
even though “any child shall be excused majority opinion, written by Justice Clark, stated
from such Bible reading, or attending such
that the Constitution required religious neutrality
Bible reading, upon written request of his
parent or guardian.” In1958, when among government organizations, such as
Edward Schempp first took up this case in schools. Justice Clark also added that, "We repeat
court against the recitation of the bible in and again reaffirm that neither a State nor the Fed-
the Abington Township School District, he eral Government can constitutionally force a person
argued that reading the bible in public 'to profess a belief or disbelief in any religion'".
school was unconstitutional under the
first amendment. As a resident of
Abington Township, Pennsylvania, Mr.
Schempp felt that reciting the bible in
public schools “prohibited free exercise of
religion for his children.” This case took
several years to settle as it bounced back
and forth in the Supreme Court, however,
was settled with the federal district court
on June 17th, 1963, in favor of Mr.
Schempp’s arguments, ruling that reading
the bible in public school is
unconstitutional. ( L eft ) Photo of Schempp, the Plaintiff. A
Unitarian and resident of the Abington township. Excerpt
from the Bible ( Right) .
Issue 1, Volume 1
The Dissenter
Potter Stewart is the Minority Vote in
Abington v. Schempp.
By: Nicole Furr