A new look at Pierce v Society of Sisters - 100 years later

 

 Pierce v. Society of Sisters was sort of a Biggie ruling regarding attacks on Our Freedom by Compulsory Public (government-controlled) Education. June first was the100th anniversary of the SCOTUS decision, and I had wanted to post about it, but things got away from me, so here is a weekend Catch-Up.
The state of Oregon had passed a law that required every parent, guardian or other person having control or charge or custody of a child between eight and sixteen years to send him/her to a public school.
The Society of Sisters was a faith-based group that had been caring for orphans and teaching youth for over 40 years. It had grown to run a system of primary schools, high schools, and even junior colleges which covered the same subjects being taught in public schools, but from the perspective and with the tenets of the Roman Catholic Church. Yes, there was a follow-the-money angle to the case; the Society owned property and buildings, and had long-term contracts with teachers and parents. The Oregon law was causing students to withdraw and would collapse the schools financially. But more importantly, the law interfered with Parental Rights choose schools where their children will receive appropriate mental and religious training, the right of the child to influence the parents' choice of a school, and the right of schools and teachers therein to engage in a useful business or profession. Basically, the enforcement of the Oregon law would destroy all private education, even a military academy that had been established  14 years earlier.  It was, accordingly, "repugnant to the Constitution." 
The Supreme Courts landmark desision struck down the Oregon law for imposing unreasonable restrictions on personal liberties. 
Set in historical context, this case regarding parental rights, along with a couple other landmark decisions ( Meyer v Nebraska, Gitlow v NYwithin a window of time) regarding free speech, was truly a Major Win in evil spiritual battles happening concurrently in the Unseen Realm. Here is the part that too often gets left out of the story these days: 
Many prominent educators, the KKK, and the fraternal lodges that were so powerful at that time were all big supporters of Compulsory Government Education(indoctrination). Their talking points contended that (1) getting rid of non-public schools would raise educational standards, (2) improve tensions between different religions and social classes, and (3) promote assimilation of immigrants and their children.  

 rights guaranteed by the Constitution may not be abridged by legislation which has no reasonable relation to some purpose within the competency of the State. The fundamental theory of liberty upon which all governments in this Union repose excludes any general power of the State to standardize its children by forcing them to accept instruction from public teachers only. The child is not the mere creature of the State; those who nurture him and direct his destiny have the right, coupled with the high duty, to recognize and prepare him for additional obligations.