Engel v. Vitale addressed the Establishment Clause in the context of school prayer. What did the Court hold?

• A. Public schools may sponsor prayers if voluntary.
• B. School sponsorship of religious activities violates the Establishment Clause.
• C. The Establishment Clause does not apply to public schools.
• D. Prayer is always allowed in public schools if non-denominational.

Answer: (B)

Engel v. Vitale tests how the Establishment Clause applies when a public school is involved in religious activities. The Court held that public schools cannot sponsor prayers, even if the prayer is non-denominational and voluntary. The reasoning is that when the state writes and encourages a prayer for students to recite, it functions as an official endorsement of religion by the government, which the First Amendment forbids. The presence of an officially sponsored prayer in the school setting creates pressure to participate and signals state endorsement of a religious practice, undermining government neutrality on religion. Therefore, school sponsorship of religious activities violates the Establishment Clause. This ruling does not prevent private individuals from praying or allow student-initiated prayer outside an official school-led program.