Engel v. Vitale : Facts
In 1951 in New York state, the Board of regents which supervises the educational system, composed a short prayer:
"Almighty God, we acknowledge our dependence on Thee, and we beg thy blessings upon us, our parents, our teachers, and our country."
This prayer was composed in order to prepare students to develop the moral and spiritual stamina to defend the American way of life. The school system of New Hyde Park in New York (Vitale) made the prayer a daily requirement. The parents (Engel) of some of the students complained that the prayer was contrary to their religious beliefs and that the government should not be allowed to force the prayer on students.
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