Landmark+Cases+in+Education+from+2000-2011

Sante Fe Independent School District v. Doe (2000) =

= = = =Summary of Case:=

In March 2000, a case was brought before the United States Supreme Court which questioned the legality of student-led prayer at high school football games. The district in question was the Sante Fe Independent School District which is located in Texas right between Galveston and Houston. The district allowed students to elect a chaplain to deliver the prayer. A Mormon mother and a Catholic mother questioned the constitutionality of this practice and filed suit against the school district. The mothers stated that the action on the part of the district violated the Establisment Clause of the First Amendment. The Establishment Clause, simply put, prohibits states from aiding or showing preference for one religion over another religion. These mothers felt that by allowing a "Christian" prayer to be said at a football game, that the district was showing preferential treatment to a particular religion.

In June 2000, in a 6-3 decison, it was determined that the student-led prayer at football games did violate the Establishment Clause and was, therefore, unconstitutional.

=**Impact on Education Today:**=

This case made the statement, AGAIN, that state entities (for which schools are a part) cannot show preferential treatment to one religion over another. By allowing a "Christian" prayer to be said at a school santioned event shows favortism to that one religion being represented. The courts seem to be trying really hard to keep that line drawn between government and religion. If students choose to initiate their own private prayer off in a corner somewhere, that is okay and cannot be stopped. However, as far as a prayer being said over the loud speaker at a football game? You won't be seeing that happen. NO PRAYER AT SCHOOL SANTIONED ACTIVITIES! = = =**Owasso Independent School District vs. Falvo (2002)**=



**Summary of Case**:
On Feb. 19, 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that peer grading does not violate Family Education Rights and Privacy Act. Students papers are not maintained within the meaning of FERPA when students correct them or call out grades. Maintained suggested that FERPA records were kept in files or cabinets in a records room at the school. The court stated further that FERPA should not be construed to prohibit techniques currently used by teachers. If homework or class work were considered educational records, a substantial burden would be placed on teachers across the country. Simply stated, an assignment is not considered an educational record as soon as it is graded by another student. (Essex)

**Impact on Education today:**
It relieves the burden on teachers so they do not have to grade every single assignment because it would be protected by FERPA. The Supreme Court stated, ===="We doubt Congress meant to intervene in this drastic fashion with traditional state functions. Under the Court of Appeals’ interpretation of FERPA, the federal power would exercise minute control over specific teaching methods and instructional dynamics in classrooms throughout the country. The Congress is not likely to have mandated this result, and we do not interpret the statute to require it."====

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