Pierce v. Society of Sisters

Definition

Pierce v. Society of Sisters was a landmark 1925 United States Supreme Court decision that ruled states cannot compel children to attend only public schools, thereby acknowledging the rights of parents to choose private or religious education for their children. This case is significant for establishing a precedent in the protection of individual liberties against state interference.

Related terms

Fourteenth Amendment: The amendment to the United States Constitution providing equal protection under the law, crucial in the court's decision in Pierce v. Society of Sisters.

Compulsory education laws: Laws that require children to attend school up to a certain age, which were central to the controversy addressed in Pierce v. Society of Sisters.

Religious freedom: A principle that supports individuals' right to practice any religion of choice or no religion at all, intertwined with the case's implications on education by religious institutions