Just last century, it was a crime in certain parts of America to send your children to parochial or private schools. In 1922, the State of Oregon criminalized parents for making their own decisions regarding their children’s education. The State argued that they wanted healthy children between the ages of 8 and 16 to only attend public schools, because the State had an interest in shaping the kids for future use in society. This really happened.
However, a group of nuns that ran a catholic school teamed-up with some guys that ran a private military academy and they sued the governor of Oregon for enacting and enforcing a law that interfered with their constitutional right to operate schools that cater to students between the ages of 8 and 16 years. They won. But the governor appealed, and the case made it all the way to the United States Supreme Court. Pierce v. Society of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, et al. 268 U.S. 510 (1925).
The Supreme Court rejected the State’s argument, and ruled that the parents of these children had a right, as part of their liberty, to direct the education of their children by selecting reputable teachers and schools.
