establishment

Wisconsin v. Yoder, 1972 Court Case Synopsis
Amish Arguments:
Jonas Yoder and Wallace Miller, both members of the Old Order Amish religion, and Adin Yutzy, a
member of the Conservative Amish Mennonite Church, were prosecuted under a Wisconsin law that
required all children to attend public schools until age 16. The three parents refused to send their
children to such schools after the eighth grade, arguing that high school attendance was contrary
to their religious beliefs.
The children were not enrolled in any private school, or within any recognized exception to the
compulsory-attendance law. On complaint of the school district administrator for the public schools,
respondents were charged, tried, and convicted of violating the compulsory-attendance law in
Green County Court and were fined the sum of $5 each.
The Amish defended themselves on the grounds that the compulsory-attendance law violated their
rights under the First and Fourteenth Amendments. They believed that their children’s attendance
at high school, public or private, was contrary to the Amish religion and way of life.
The Amish objected to formal education beyond eighth grade because it exposes their children to
a “worldly” influence in conflict with their beliefs. High school tends to emphasize educational and
scientific activities, individuality, competitiveness, success, and social life with other students.
Amish life focuses on informal learning-through-doing; a life of “goodness,” rather than a life of
brain power; wisdom rather than technical knowledge; community interests, rather than competition.
The Amish disagree with formal high school education because it emphasizes competition in class
work and sports, pressure to conform to the styles, manners, and ways of the peer group. It takes
their kids away from their community during an important time in their lives.
The Amish do not object to elementary education through eighth grade because they agree that
students need to be able to read, write, and do math. The Amish need these skills so they can read
the Bible, be good farmers and citizens, and be able to deal with non-Amish people in everyday life.
State of Wisconsin Arguments:
Jonas Yoder and Wallace Miller, both members of the Old Order Amish religion, and Adin Yutzy,
a member of the Conservative Amish Mennonite Church, were prosecuted under a Wisconsin law
that required all children to attend public schools until age 16. The three parents refused to send
their children to such schools after the eighth grade, arguing that high school attendance was
contrary to their religious beliefs.
The children were not enrolled in any private school, or within any recognized exception to the
compulsory-attendance law. On complaint of the school district administrator for the public schools,
respondents were charged, tried, and convicted of violating the compulsory-attendance law in
Green County Court and were fined the sum of $5 each.
The State believes that the requirement of high school education until age 16 was a good idea and
not unreasonable to ask of people. They believe that it is important for Amish children to complete
the extra two years of high school because some Amish may choose to leave the Amish community.
If they leave the community, the extra schooling they will receive will help them to live on their own.
If the Amish leave the community, and they don’t have the extra two years, taxpayers may have
to take care of those people. By providing the extra two years of education, the state may be able
to prevent this from happening.