Handout A: Religious Liberty and the Supreme Court Key Question

Key Question #1

Jason is the valedictorian of Hodgetown Public High School. Following tradition, Jason will give a speech at graduation. Also following tradition, school officials will review his speech before he delivers it. Jason puts his heart into his address, and he wants to make personal connections with his classmates. W hen officials review Jason’s speech, they tell him he has to take out his references to Jesus Christ. Jason refuses.

Compose a well-written essay in which you support either Jason’s right to deliver his speech as written or the constitutionality of the school’s actions.

Key Question #2

Jason is the valedictorian of Hodgetown Public High School. Following tradition, Jason will give a speech at graduation. Jason puts his heart into his address, and he wants it to make personal connections with his classmates. He delivers his speech, which contains multiple references to his Christian faith and his belief in Jesus Christ, at the graduation ceremony. The next day, an atheist family files suit against Hodgetown School District.

Compose a well-written essay in which you support either Hodgetown School District or the atheist family.

Documents

• Document A:The Northwest Ordinance, 1787
• Document B: The First Amendment, 1791
• Document C: The Fourteenth Amendment, 1868
• Document D: Engel v. Vitale, 1962
• Document E: First Graders Pray in Classroom, 1966
• Document F: Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, 1969
• Document G: Dissenting Opinion, Wallace v. Jaffree, 1985
• Document H: Bethel School District v. Fraser, 1986
• Document I: Board of Education of Westside Community Schools v. Mergens, 1990
• Document J: Lee v. Weisman, 1992
• Document K: Capitol Square Review and Advisory Bd. v. Pinette, 1995
• Document L: Adler v. Duval, 11th Cir. 2001