how did Wisconsin violate the Free Exercise Clause in Wisconsin v. Yoder?
In Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972), the Supreme Court held that Wisconsin's compulsory school attendance law was unconstitutional as applied to the Amish community. The ruling was based on the violation of the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.
The Free Exercise Clause protects individuals' rights to practice their religion freely without government interference. In this case, Wisconsin violated the Free Exercise Clause by imposing a law that burdened the Amish community's religious beliefs and practices.
The Amish, a religious group known for their simple lifestyle and avoidance of modern technology, believed that high school education was in conflict with their religious values. They argued that attending school beyond the eighth grade was unnecessary and could potentially undermine their religious beliefs and way of life.
Wisconsin's compulsory school attendance law required children to attend school until the age of 16, without providing specific exemptions for religious reasons. By enforcing this law on the Amish community, Wisconsin infringed upon their religious freedom.
The Supreme Court recognized that the Amish had a sincere religious belief in the importance of an agrarian lifestyle and education through practical work within the Amish community. The Court concluded that the state's interest in compelling attendance beyond the eighth grade did not outweigh the infringement on the Amish's religious freedom.
Therefore, by applying the compulsory school attendance law to the Amish community without granting a religious exemption, Wisconsin violated the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.