Pierce v. Society of Sisters
U.S. Case Law
285 U.S. 510 (1925), declared unconstitutional state statutes forbidding private and parochial elementary and secondary schools. An order of Catholic nuns filed suit against Oregon officials who were requiring all children of school age to attend public rather than private schools. The Supreme Court found for the sisters, holding that the Fourteenth Amendment guarantees “personal liberty,” including the right of parents to choose schooling for their children.
Cite this Entry
“Pierce v. Society of Sisters.” Merriam-Webster.com Legal Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/legal/Pierce%20v.%20Society%20of%20Sisters. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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