ABSTRACT
Abington School District v. Schempp, 374 US 203, represented the US. Supreme Court's attempt to clarify its past First Amendment rulings dealing with religion and to establish guidelines as to permissible and impermissible practices in the public schools. In Abington, the Court assessed the constitutionality of Pennsylvania and Maryland statutes requiring public schools to engage in a Bible reading and the recitation of the Lord's Prayer at the beginning of each day. The Supreme Court's task was to resolve the contradiction among the lower federal courts and to provide guidance to them in interpreting the Establishment Clause. The Court should inquire as to the purpose of the statute and to its primary effect. If either the statute's purpose or effect advanced or inhibited religion, then the statute violated the Establishment Clause.
