Meyer v. Nebraska (1923)

1) Link to the Actual Opinion
Read the U.S. Reports opinion (PDF)

2) Summary of the Opinion
Nebraska made it illegal to teach modern foreign languages to young children. A teacher (Meyer) was convicted for teaching German. The Supreme Court struck down the law, holding that the 14th Amendment’s Due Process Clause protects a broad “liberty” interest, including parents’ right to direct their children’s education and teachers’ right to teach.

3) Why It Mattered
Meyer was an early, foundational statement that family and educational choices fall within protected liberty. It laid groundwork for later cases on parental rights and substantive due process.

4) What It Provided or Took Away

• Provided: Constitutional recognition of parents’ authority over children’s education and of teachers’ liberty to teach.
• Took Away: States’ power to impose sweeping, nativist restrictions on classroom content.

5) Overreach or Proper Role?
The Court read “liberty” broadly, but grounded it in longstanding traditions of family autonomy and education. Most view it as the Court doing what it should: protecting fundamental liberties from arbitrary laws.

6) Plain-English Impact Today
Parents have a constitutional say in their kids’ schooling. States can regulate education, but they can’t trample basic family choices or ban subjects without strong reasons.

• Parental Rights
• Education
• Substantive Due Process
• Liberty