On March 8, 1948, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in McCollum v. Board of Education declared that state-sponsored religious education in public schools violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, reinforcing that church and state should be separate in American education.

This case challenged the ‘released time’ program, which allowed public schools to dedicate class periods to religious instruction. The Champaign County Board of Education approved a scheme wherein weekly religious instruction was given in public schools by outside religious instructors employed by private third parties. Vashti McCollum, an atheist and the mother of a public school student showed remarkable courage when she filed a lawsuit in 1945 after her son was excluded and ostracized for not participating. After losing in lower courts, McCollum appealed to the Supreme Court.

In an 8-1 court decision, the Supreme Court upheld the Constitution by ruling that religious instruction programs were forbidden by the First Amendment Establishment Clause. The Court’s determination that combining school administration cooperation with a religious council and using tax-funded facilities for religious education violates the constitutional separation of religion from state control reassures us about the system of checks and balances. Under court decisions, religious education receives no backing from public schools or federal government funding through any means. Also, students were wrongfully coerced into participating in the program because of their faith. Writing for the majority, Justice Hugo Black stressed that the Constitution forbids the government from supporting or endorsing any religion in institutes of higher learning.

Legacy

This case influenced contemporary conceptions of religious freedom in the U.S. by reaffirming the impartiality of public education. Its impact is evident in future decisions like Abington School District v. Schempp (1963), which forbade Bible readings in public schools, and Engel v. Vitale (1962), which outlawed required school prayers. The McCollum case remains a pillar of American religious freedom, guaranteeing that public schools remain welcoming environments for learners of all faiths.