WEST SIDE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS V. MERGENS (1990)
Bridget Mergens was a senior at Westside High School in Omaha, Nebraska. She asked her homeroom teacher, who was also the school's principal, for permission to start an after-school Christian club. Westside High already had about 30 clubs, including a chess club and a scuba-diving club. The principal denied Bridget's request, telling her that a religious club would be illegal in a public school.
The year before, in 1984, Congress had addressed this issue in the Equal Access Act, which required public schools to allow religious and political clubs if they let students form other kinds of student-interest clubs. When Bridget challenged the principal's decision, her lawsuit became the Supreme Court's test case for deciding whether the Equal Access Act was constitutional under what is known as the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."
[HOW DO YOU THINK THE SUPREME COURT RULED ON THIS CASE?] [DO YOU AGREE WITH THE PRINCIPALS DECISION? EXPLAIN]
posted by Mr. Turk at 10:25 PM
79 Comments:
they ruled badly
8:03 AM
there will be a new club
8:03 AM
even if she started that club nobody would have joined anyway and they had too many clubs to began with
8:05 AM
im not sure because congress is pretty shady ,but even though it is separation of church and state. The principal should of gave her a yes for their is nothing wrong with expression.
8:06 AM
there going to be a new club at that school
8:08 AM
i think the court ruled in favor of her. i dont agree with the principal because it wasnt doing any harm if were a club.
8:08 AM
I THINK THAT THE COURTS DID IT ALL WRONG....THEY SHOULD HAVE LET HER. THE PRINCIPAL ALSO JUST BECAUSE THERE IS A CLUB DOSENT MEAN THAT EVERYONE HAS TO JOIN
8:09 AM
I think the court ruled in favor of Bridget Mergens because her could was bringing a new interest to the school and no one was being forced to be in her club it was for those who appreciate it. And I do not agree with the principle's decision to not allow her to start the club.
8:09 AM
they ruled badly because it wasnt fair to bridget. No, I think that he just didnt want to deal with it at the moment so he denied it
8:11 AM
I believe that it was a good idea to have a christian club and that she should be able to start one i do not believe that the principal made a good decision at all.
8:11 AM
they probably ruled towards the girl because of the Equal Access Act.I Dont agree with the principals decisison because that was not a bad idea whats so ever. she just wanted to make people get together which wouldnt do no harm at all towards the school. and yeah maybe they did have too many other clubs and maybe nobody would of went but that was on her and im sure she would know what to do if that did happen.
8:11 AM
The supreme court should let this case go into action meaning that they should let any religion come into play now. The principal should be fired by the board of education for not letting the girl do a club like that
8:12 AM
i think the supreme court ruled under mergens. i do not agree with the principal because i think it is great to be able to exersize what you beleive in because schools should be happy people are trying to get there life together and praying helps so they can do better.
8:12 AM
i think the princepal should had the school vote about having a religion club and i also think they should because they have 30 club and why not add one more
8:15 AM
I do not agree b/c if u can have clubs with everything else then u can have a christianclub. Also what is the big deal the only people in the club would be christians and shouldnt bother anybody seeing as though they have those emo and gothic chicks walking around.
8:15 AM
They did not denied her. I agree with the principal's decision because religion should not be practiced in a public school.
8:19 AM
i think the supreme court will allow the club to be formed. If the equal access act is requiring religous and political clubs to be allowed, then the principal should have no say in denying it!
I do not agree with the principals decision, because i feel as though a religous based club should have the same values as any other club in that school. He lied about religion not being allowed in public schools, and I dont think that its fair. How is it that he will allow a club such as "scuba diving", which has no cause, but deny a relgious based club, which could teach other students a lot about their God?
8:21 AM
1- i think the supreme court said that this case was consitution bcause was there any harm done.
2- no because was there any harm done no so they had a good case
8:26 AM
ya it illegal in a public school but that should stop believes'
2-i disagree because there was notany hurm dome
8:35 AM
even if they started a new club nobody would join because there are too many already
8:51 AM
there will probably be a new club at the school
8:51 AM
religion is not allowed to be in public schools and they ruled the wrong way
8:51 AM
the principal was unfair, and the court ruled worse.
8:51 AM
the courts didnt do anything right
8:54 AM
bad no because it was wrong
8:55 AM
they should allow any kinds of clubs after school as long as there not breaking the law
8:58 AM
I don't agree with the principal's decision because there should be a club based on religion. I believe the Supreme Court ruled in her favor because of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
8:59 AM
i think they ruled for the girl. i disagree with the principal even though he just probably thought that there were too many clubs.
8:59 AM
I think it was a good rule. No I don't agree with the principals decision because it wasn't a good decision.
8:59 AM
guilty, the big meanies, the principle should get something bad out of it
9:00 AM
YES, IF THEY HAVE 30 CLUBS ALREADY FUNDING MIGHT BE A PROBLEM.
9:02 AM
i dont think that is sould be a club because i dont think religen should be taught in public schools if she was really that worried about it she would go to a private school where they can practic that stuff
9:02 AM
the principle should let her start the club
9:02 AM
It may have just been a problem between two different religious background or just that the teacher didn't know of the act that passed.
9:03 AM
rulin was bad,it was alot of clubs
9:03 AM
the court ruled in favor of the girl.
no i dont agree with the action. b/c any body should be able to satrt a religious group if they want
9:04 AM
i agree you should notget religion involved in school
9:05 AM
No i dont think that is fair they let it be a club for everything else but they won let the girl make a club the state law says its ok so y wouldnt it be ok for her to have a club after school
9:07 AM
i agree to
9:07 AM
I think the court ruled very well becuase it says that a public school can have a religious and political club. No i don't agree with the principals decision because just a year ado the congress addressed that issues of allowing public schools to have those kind of clubs.
9:10 AM
I think the court ruled in favor of the girl and no i do not agree with decision made by the princepal
9:10 AM
i think that was wrong of her to tell her that because its not wrong for her to start a christan club cause every body needs jesus in thier life now and days
9:10 AM
i think that their should be no test case for this case. i think that by ruling this that the supreme court is going against their previous ruling that you cant practice your own religion in school. so yes i agree with the principals descion
9:16 AM
i think that their should be no test case for this case. i think that by ruling this that the supreme court is going against their previous ruling that you cant practice your own religion in school. so yes i agree with the principals descion
9:17 AM
yes cause she should of been able to set up a club
9:18 AM
i agree with the descion the courts made because if the can have clubs for dumb stuff then they have teaching how god is our savior. no i dont agree the choice the principal made because it was careless
9:23 AM
They made a bad decision
10:28 AM
I think the supreme court ruled in the school's favor because it doesn't tell her what religion she must have, it just tells her that she cannot use her religion in public places which might create problems
10:36 AM
I do agree with the principle. because bringing the church into school is unconstitutional but hey that's just my opinion.
10:36 AM
i believe hshe won that case.no you should be able to start a religous club in a school.
10:37 AM
I think the court was right
10:37 AM
no because they have all those other unessicary clubs but they dont want a club hat help chnage childrens lives
10:37 AM
They had to many clubs to be in.D.Sanders
10:39 AM
I fell shes right whats wrong with having religion in the school, who ever dont want to join doesnt have to.
10:39 AM
I THINK THE WAY THE COURT RULED WAS ALL WRONG. I FEEL THAT IF ANY OTHER CLUB OR ORGANIZATION CAN BE FORMED, SO CAN A RELIGIOUS CLUB. I THINK THE PRINCIPALS DECISION WAS ALL WRONG.
10:41 AM
they ruled badly and also, i think if they can have all these other dumb clubs that does nothing for your life but maybe look good on a college application than rather have something benifical is just plain stupid. they should have clubs that let people express how they feel about GOD and things of that nature.then maybe the schools and teachers and students would not be so out of order.
10:43 AM
they should rule for the girl ..... she has the foredom of speech!!!!!
10:43 AM
Thet ruled is badly nobody will have joined
10:45 AM
I'm not to sure case. but i do agree with the principals because religion is not allow to be in schools
10:46 AM
the suprem court ruled mergens and i disagree with the principal because we should have the right to have a christian club so students can join and teach the word to people who dont know it.
10:51 AM
It houldn't be started,the supreme court ruled against her.
10:57 AM
They wont start it
12:08 PM
They wont start it
12:08 PM
their will be a new club
12:09 PM
i think it was a good decison for making the club dont think that the principal made a good choise
B.abrams
12:11 PM
i dnt think the court ruled completely i dnt agree with the principal
12:14 PM
EVEN IF SHE SARTED THAT CLUB NOBODY WOULD HAVEJOINED ANYWAYAND THEYHAD TOO MANY CLUBS TO BEGAN WITH
12:17 PM
1st off I think if you have a club you want to start, i think you should have the right to do so. Because you basically can do anything in school but christianity, including say the Pledge of Allegiance, but they take God out of it. To me if I want to pray, I'm going to pray and if somebody has a problem with it then we workin... Because I do what I want... How about you do you.. then it wont be nothin....hahaha
12:20 PM
i would not have jointhat club
12:23 PM
they probably ruled in favor of the student. I personally do not agree with the principal's decision. i mean if other students dont believe in what that senior was saying then they dont have to attend the club but for those who do believe it would be a good idea. i mean our school has a similar club and no one seems to have a problem with it.
12:23 PM
I think the supreme court ruled badly.
I don't agree with the principals decision because it is a club therfor it doesnt truly hold a impak to schools.
12:25 PM
the court ruled with the gurl. i dont agree with the principal
12:26 PM
they decide wheter the equal acess act was constitutional under what is known. no because kids should be in clubs and other stuff to keep them out of trouble and for they could be active.
12:27 PM
they probably ruled towards the girl because of the Equal Access Act the principal wasnt in the wrong because if he would have went ahead and let her start the club then he could have probly lost his job for breaking the law
12:29 PM
they will let the club begin
12:31 PM
I dont agree with the principle's decision because freedom of religion is in the constitution
12:32 PM
she should be able to make her club and whoever wants to join so whoever dosent want to join can just mind their business
12:33 PM
there is going to be a new club.
12:34 PM
I THINK THAT THE HOMEROOM TEACHER SHOULD HAVE LET THE GIRL HAVE THE CLUB....IT S THE PEOPLES CHOICE FI THEY WANT TO GO TO THE CLUB OR NOT......WHAT OTHER KIDS WANT TO LEARN DOESENT EFFECT EVERYONE ELSE
12:11 PM
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