The most important court case in Amish history. The US Supreme Court sided with them.
Background
Wisconsin law: all children must attend school until 16. The Amish: our children study 8 grades (until 14), then work on the farm. State: you're breaking the law. Amish: our faith prohibits worldly education after 8th grade.
The Case
1968: Jonas Yoder, Wallace Miller, and Adin Yutzy refused to send children to high school. Fined $5 each. Appealed. Case reached the Supreme Court.
Decision (1972)
7-0 in favor of the Amish. Main argument: First Amendment (religious freedom) + 300 years of Amish history prove their education system works. Amish children don't become burdens on society — they're self-sufficient, productive, law-abiding.
Significance
Precedent: religious freedom can outweigh state interest in education. The Amish are the only group in the US legally exempt from compulsory secondary education.
Irony
The Amish won the case without having Amish lawyers (no higher education). A volunteer Lutheran attorney defended them.