Many American public schools began the day with organized public prayer until 1962, when the U.S. Supreme Court outlawed this practice as a violation of the Constitution's Establishment Clause, causing an ongoing controversy. The Founding Fathers wrote this clause to prevent injustices by imposed state-established or state-sponsored religious practices and indoctrinations. Current national and state curriculum standards often encourage the teaching of world and American religions as a significant part of civilizations' histories, leaving the practice of prayer to each student's choice. 18421s