Santa Fe Independent School District vs Jane Doe

In 2000, a Texas school district allowed a student "chaplain" who had been elected by other students to lead a prayer over the public address system before home football games. Multiple students and parents sued the school anonymously for violating what is known as the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, which states, "Congress should make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise there of"

The Supreme Court ruled against the school district. Even though the prayers were led by students, they were still a schooled sponsored activity. It is said that the Constitution says that schools are not to force on students the difficult choice between avoiding offensive religious rituals, or attending football games. Student, however, are allowed to pray at school as long as a teacher, principal, or coach is not involved.

 

Today, this affects schools by not allowing school officials to force one particular religion on their students. Your allowed to pray, wear specific kinds of clothing, etc. for your religion because of religious rights, but teachers, principals, coaches, etc. aren't allowed to force you or try and persuade you into performing religious rituals.